The primary problem with clogged, leaking, or poorly functioning eavestroughs (gutters) is that rainwater overflows or drips down the walls instead of being directed safely away from the house. This allows water to pool around the foundation, which can seriously compromise its structural integrity and lead to expensive repairs.

This risk is especially high in Winnipeg because of our heavy clay soil. Clay expands dramatically when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries, causing the ground to shift seasonally. Over time, this movement puts extra stress on foundations and is the main reason many older homes in the area experience cracking, settling, or shifting. Properly functioning eavestroughs are one of the most important defenses against this problem—they keep rainwater far away from the foundation where it can’t cause harm.

Important note: Blocked gutters almost never cause water to leak into the house through the roof or attic. Interior roof leaks are almost always due to problems with the roofing itself (missing shingles, worn flashing, ice dams, etc.), not the eavestroughs. Water would only enter the home through the roof area because of the gutters in very rare cases of extreme, long-term neglect—such as when the fascia board, soffit, or siding has completely rotted away. Even then, it takes years of zero maintenance for things to reach that point. However, if gutters are left clogged for a long time, the constant overflow can eventually rot the fascia, soffit, and edges of the roof, leading to much bigger (and costlier) problems down the road.