A well-maintained guttering system protects your home from top to bottom. It drains water from the roof and away from the home, preventing water buildup in areas you don’t want it.
Maintaining your gutters isn’t really that difficult, and it pays off in a big way. The good news is, you don’t have to do it often, and you can even hire professional services to do it for you.
The Problem with Poorly Maintained Gutters
When taking care of your home, gutters are easy to overlook. But it’s important you don’t take them for granted.
When properly maintained, your house can stand strong and protect everything inside.
Unfortunately, neglected gutters can cause major problems and expensive repairs. If your gutters can’t drain water away from the home, your biggest problem becomes soil erosion.
You risk damage to your foundation, driveways, and sidewalks. If water finds its way into basements, you could find yourself with a mold problem. And if you have standing water, you will attract mosquitoes.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
You should perform gutter maintenance twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall.
The experts at Let it Rain Ltd. come with all the safety equipment needed to take care of every step necessary. They will also properly remove any pests that may have made a home in your gutters.
The trained professionals will remove all debris and inspect your system, then alert you of any issues that you need to address.
Keep Your Roof Free of Debris
As you are performing gutter maintenance, you’ll also want to check your roof. Debris often gets caught in the valleys of roofs and this can become a big problem.
As it starts to dislodge during storms, most of it gets caught in your gutters. Debris build-up on your roof can also result in water leaking into the home. So, clearing this off has a dual benefit you don’t want to ignore.
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Clearing Gutter Debris
Clogged gutters prevent proper drainage. Nothing is worse for a home than standing water, so this is an important part of home maintenance.
The job is time-consuming and can become dangerous without the proper equipment.
Since no one lives on a perfectly flat lot, your ladder needs to be sturdy and able to support you on uneven ground.
If your home has more than one story, this job is probably better left to a professional.
Inspect Gutters and Downspouts for Damage
Over time, your gutters and downspouts can become worn down. As part of your maintenance routine, you should check for holes, rust, leaks, and any other signs of wear and tear.
Depending on the damage, minor issues can be patched or repaired. However, if your gutters are rusting, there’s not much you can do to save them.
If you have to replace rusty gutters consider a material such as vinyl, aluminum, or copper. These materials don’t rust so they tend to last longer.
Preventative Maintenance
You can take some preventative measures to protect your guttering system. Gutter guards prevent some sticks and leaves from clogging downspouts.
This saves time and money in the long run as it keeps your gutters at their peak performance.
However, gutter guards are not a substitute for regular maintenance. Experts still recommend twice a year maintenance since it gets your home ready for the changing seasons.
Gutters may not seem like much, but depending on how they are cared for, they can really change a home’s appearance.
When given the attention they deserve, they boost your home’s curb appeal by giving it a clean, polished look.
