subject: General Maintenance For Your Gutters [print this page] With the passing of Fall and the coming of Winter it is time, once again, to clean out, repair, or replace your home's gutters. The fallen leaves and other debris will need to be removed before they become heavy laden with snow, or you risk damage to the gutters themselves, which often cannot support the burden of wet packed leaves covered by excess snow that is unable to melt and run off because of blockage. This causes undue stress and damage to your gutters which may require various repairs. Of course, if your gutters are beyond repair, you will want to have them replaced.
Cleaning Gutters
The process of cleaning out your gutters should be a simple matter of scooping and spraying out unwanted debris. You will need a ladder and a garden hose to get to and clean out the hard to reach areas. If you are cleaning gutters yourself, make sure you take precautions and try to have someone there to hold your ladder, so you do not fall and hurt yourself. If your gutters are too high or too packed for you to clean them properly you can always contact our local business to have a professional come and clean your gutters for you. By cleaning your gutters regularly, you will be preventing damage to your gutters and to your home, as there are several problems homes can suffer from if gutters are not maintained, such as water seeping into your basement.
Keeping Your Gutters Clean
You should always clean your gutters regularly, but there are also measures you can take to prevent debris from building up, particularly for hard to reach areas. You can buy and install gutter covers that fit into place over hard to clean areas, such as corners where they meet with the downspout. This will help decrease the amount of leaves and other debris that gather in your gutters over the seasons. There are many types of gutter covers and guards to choose from, so ask our local professionals about what type is best for your area and your home. By doing so, you will be actively preventing unneeded home repair that can occur when gutters are overfilled.
Gutter Repair
If your gutters have gone too long without being cleaned, you may have a few issues that should be addressed. Occasionally your gutters may begin to droop in the middle, causing water to pool and weigh them down instead of draining out to the downspouts. If your gutters remain in this state, the drooping will only get worse, and eventually the gutter's supports may not be able to hold the weight, dropping heavy water laden gutters onto whatever is below it at the time. Another issue you will often face is leakage. Leaks will occur even if you have been vigilant in maintaining your gutters, so when you or one of our professionals is cleaning your gutters, look for potential leaks in problem areas, such as next to a downspout, where pieces of the gutters connect. Sealing such leaks will help prevent more damage over time, keeping your gutters and your home in good repair.
