You may not realize it but gutters are among the most crucial weather protection features of your home. The main purpose of gutters is to catch water that falls from your roof and guide it into downspouts, which will in turn direct the water away from the foundation of your house. By doing so, gutters prevent water damage, flooding, and the harmful growth of mold and mildew in your home in Minnesota.

In some drier climates, you may see houses without gutters. It’s true that in climates which rarely experience rain or snow, gutters aren’t necessary for homes. However, that’s not the case in Minnesota; the heavy rainfall and snowfall throughout the year necessitates gutters on all homes in this state. While people usually think of gutters guiding away rainwater during a thunderstorm, they’re equally vital in winter and early spring when snow and ice begins to melt and run off your roof.

If your home didn’t have gutters, then any rainwater and snowmelt would trickle down your siding, potentially causing water damage. The falling water would then form trenches around the sides of your home, flooding deeply into the soil. Over time, the water runoff from your roof would cause critical water damage to your house’s foundation, allowing mold and mildew to grow. If your home has a basement, this would flood, too.