Tree leaves shed rain so that the tree won’t lose vital water through them. Great for trees but if our gutters and downspouts are covered with them they effectively repel and block water from the intended path of a gutter system.
Imagine hundreds of plastic bags in your kitchen sink. It’s logical to assume the drain would be stopped up in short order. Any water pouring into the sink would soon overflow onto the floor.
Fallen leaves resting gently in your home’s gutters are sure to have the same effect, defeating the whole purpose of having gutters. The difference is that overflowing gutters are a major cause of erosion. Instead of a wet kitchen floor the garden beds, basement and foundation are at risk.
Drowned plantings, cracked chimneys, even a settling foundation are all possibilities.
Clearing the debris is prudent. A timely call to a gutter cleaning service is a good investment in maintenance.