Gutters play an important part in preventing leaks and cracks in the foundation while protecting your home’s exterior from water damage. A gutter system collects water from the roof and directs it toward the gutter outlet and then down the downpipes. But in order for the gutters to keep your home safe, they need to be clog-free. Here are some proactive gutter maintenance tips and tricks to keep the gutters working the way they should.
Know When and How Often
It’s not just about cleaning the gunk out of the gutter channels. Knowing when and how often will help you make your regular home maintenance more effective. The standard guideline for cleaning the gutters is twice a year, once in the spring and then again in the fall. However, you might have to clean the gutter system three or even four times a year if:
- There are a lot of trees on your property
- The trees are near the roof and gutters
- The house is near a highway, factory, or agricultural industry
- Both deciduous and coniferous trees grow close to the house
Start with the Roof
Before cleaning the gutters start with the roof. Walk around the house with binoculars aimed at the top of your house. Check for debris especially in roof valleys and around the chimney and skylights. Plan to clear off the debris before gutter cleaning. You don’t want the twigs and leaves on the roof landing in your clean shiny gutters. If you have to climb directly on to the roof, use basic ladder safety rules.
Cleaning the Gutters
When cleaning a gutter system, use earth-friendly products. Using cleaning solutions that will be kind to the earth will also be kind to aluminum gutters. Most types of gutter systems have protective coatings that could be damaged by harsh chemicals.
Inspect the Hardware
Gutters are typically fastened to the fascia with nails and brackets; downspouts are secured to siding or exterior walls. Inspect the hardware from time to time to ensure that nails and brackets aren’t coming loose. When hardware isn’t securely holding gutter sections in place, they can pull away from the fascia, allowing water to get in between the fascia and the back of the gutters or to spill over the front. If brackets on downspouts are loose, downpipes can shift in stormy weather or become disconnected, causing water to pool too close to the foundation.
Buying a Gutter System
If you are in the market for a new gutter system, buy one with proactive maintenance in mind. Seamless gutters, whether manufactured from aluminum, copper, or steel, reduce the number of seams in a gutter system. Seamless gutters generally require fewer repairs and less maintenance.
Don’t Ignore Repairs
Inspect the gutters in between scheduled gutter cleanings. If you notice a separated seam (where two sections are joined together) or debris snagged on the gutter outlet or the ground underneath the downspout is still wet two days after it’s rained, these are signs that shouldn’t be ignores. Make repairs as soon as possible.
Hire a Pro
Know when to hire a pro. If you haven’t been able to clean the gutters for a while – health issues, too busy, procrastination – it might be time to hire a pro gutter technician to clean the gutters for you.
