What Happens If Gutters Clog In Tucson?

Clogged gutters don’t seem like a big problem at first. Especially in Tucson. Most of the year it’s dry, sunny… not exactly gutter weather. So they just sit up there and people forget about them until a storm shows up.

Monsoon rain can come down fast here. When that happens, a roof can dump a lot of water in a short time. If the gutters are clogged, that water can’t move through the system. It backs up. Then it starts spilling over the edge.

That’s usually when people realize something’s wrong. Around Tucson, CR Gutters, Inc.™ gets a lot of calls right after storms when water is pouring over the gutters instead of draining through the downspouts.

Most of the time it’s simple. The gutters were just full of debris.

Why clogged gutters can cause problems

Rain isn’t constant in Tucson, but the storms we do get can be intense.

A quick monsoon storm can push a surprising amount of water off the roof. Gutters are supposed to guide that water away from the house. When they’re clogged… it just spills out instead.

That overflow can lead to things like:

• Water backing up along the roof edge
• Dark streaks or stains on stucco walls
• Dirt washing away near the foundation
• Puddles forming next to the house
• Landscaping getting pushed around after storms

One storm might not seem like a big deal.

But if the same spots get soaked every time it rains, those areas start showing wear.

Why gutters still clog in Tucson

People sometimes assume desert homes don’t deal with gutter clogs. But they do. Wind is a big reason.

Dust blows around Tucson all the time and settles inside the gutters. Then leaves from desert trees drop in. Twigs land on the roof. Roof granules slowly wash down from shingles. Over time all that stuff mixes together.

Eventually you get this gritty layer sitting in the bottom of the gutter channel.

Some common things that clog Tucson gutters:

• Dust and dirt blowing in from the desert
• Leaves from palo verde or mesquite trees
• Small twigs after windy days
• Roof grit washing down from shingles
• Random debris that lands on the roof

It builds up slowly… and most people don’t notice it until a storm hits.

One way some homeowners deal with it

Some people add gutter guards.

They sit over the gutter opening and help keep leaves and twigs out. Water still flows in, but less junk ends up inside.

They’re not perfect though. Gutters still need cleaning sometimes… just not as often.

If gutters clog and start overflowing, a simple cleaning usually fixes it.

For many Tucson homes, cleaning and small repairs usually run around $200 to $500 depending on the house.

The price can depend on things like:

• Roof size
• Height of the home
• Number of downspouts
• How much debris is packed inside

Single-story homes are usually quicker to clean. Two-story homes take a little longer.

If you’ve seen water spilling over the gutters during a storm, there’s a good chance something’s clogged up there. Happens a lot in Tucson. Dust builds up, little leaves, roof grit… then a monsoon storm hits and the water suddenly has nowhere to go.

You can call CR Gutters, Inc.™ at (602) 671-3476 for gutter cleaning in Tucson. A quick cleaning usually clears all that junk out so the water can actually flow the way it’s supposed to.