Everyone who calls Kansas City or the surrounding area home has felt the sticky humidity that late spring and summer bring. There’s no escaping the humidity here in the Heartland. Whether you’re enjoying a day by the pool, going on a hike, or are simply driving in your car, you’ll most likely have clothes stuck to your skin or become sweaty from the humidity levels.
Not only does humidity make us sweat and exhaust us, but it can do a number on our gutter systems. Believe it or not, humidity can affect the lifespan of your gutter system, shortening it by years. Continue reading to learn about how humidity in the Heartland can affect your gutters as well as a solution to combat the humidity.
Your Gutters May Corrode
Traditional gutters are likely to corrode over time due to weather conditions. Humidity can speed up the process of corrosion. Here’s a quick science lesson on humidity and metals: when metal is exposed to high moisture levels it reacts with the oxygen and electrons of the metal, resulting in a much faster corrosion process.
Gutter systems come in many different materials like aluminum, steel, copper, and vinyl. Although some of these materials resist corrosion, some will rust and corrode over time, especially steel if it isn’t stainless. While some materials have a coating on them that “resists” rust, the paint will chip, revealing the material underneath. As a result, the material is exposed to the elements causing it to rust and corrode.
If Clogged, Your Gutters are a Hotbed for Insects
High humidity is a daily occurrence in the greater Kansas city area, especially in the late spring and summer months. Our average annual percentage of humidity is 68%, meaning that the air contains 68% water vapor. Relative humidity over 50% is considered humid, so our region is above average.
While you may loathe humid weather, insects thrive in it. When gutter systems aren’t properly cleaned, they can become an ideal place for insects to call home and multiply. Insects need the following to survive: the temperature must be right for their particular species, have higher humidity levels, and have a steady source of food. Gutter systems that aren’t cleaned often are an ideal place for insects to call home, especially when humidity levels are higher than average. Some insects are a nuisance like mosquitoes and wasps while some are creepy and crawly like centipedes and cockroaches. These pests can work their way into your home if they take up residence in your gutter system, so be mindful and clean your gutters often.
Along with working their way into your home, insects can cause quite a bit of damage to your gutter system. Insects like bees and wasps that build nests and hives can put unnecessary weight and stress on your gutters as well as create a blockage, ultimately impeding water flow. If pests like termites that feast on wood are found in your gutter system then your wooden fascia boards and the wooden exterior and interior of your home are at risk of severe damage. It’s amazing how much damage small insects can cause!
Humidity & Clogged Gutters can Affect the Inside of Your Home
High humidity levels mixed with clogged gutters can wreak havoc on the inside of your home, causing damage to your home’s siding, basement, foundation, and even the attic. When half-round gutters are clogged, each time there’s precipitation, that water is forced to collect and pool over the side of the gutter, forcing some of the water back onto the roof and allowing it to seep into the tiny spaces between the gutter and the soffit and fascia boards. This water can cause leaks, creating mold and mildew and eventually ruining those soffit and fascia boards. High humidity levels don’t allow the water that has collected in a clogged gutter system to dry out, forcing it to stay and collect inside of the gutter.
Along with causing leaks and damage, humidity and clogged gutters can affect the interior temperature of your home. Moisture that’s left to collect inside of the gutter can be forced into your home’s attic insulation, ultimately having an impact on your home’s energy efficiency. When your attic’s insulation isn’t able to function properly then it could increase the temperature in your home, especially with higher humidity levels.
Humidity is a constant issue here in the Heartland, causing all sorts of issues for gutter systems. From causing gutters to corrode, insects to collect and breed, and affecting the inside of your home, a lot of damage can occur. Fortunately, there is a solution for homeowners looking to combat gutter issues that are made worse with high humidity levels – making the switch to K-Guard.
Our leaf-free gutter product can withstand all types of weather conditions including high humidity, heavy rain, high wind gusts, hail, snow, and ice. The K-Guard System will never corrode, the paint will never chip, and it’ll never pull away from the home. Our complete gutter system eliminates clogged gutters forever by keeping all debris out. You’ll never have to clean your gutters again!
To make the switch to install K-Guard, contact our team today to schedule your free estimate. We offer our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations: Kansas City, Overland Park, Topeka, Olathe, Shawnee, Independence, Lenexa, and Lee’s Summit.
