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Tips for Maintaining and Cleaning Your Gutters
Gutter care is an important part of your home and should be taken seriously. It’s easy to put off cleaning your gutters, but it is something you should do regularly. Here are some tips to help you care for your gutters.
Why Are Gutters Important?
First, you need to understand why gutters need maintenance and care. Gutters direct water away from your roof, protecting your home from foundation damage and water damage.
Over time, gutters can become clogged with leaves and seeds from trees. This can lead to water damage, sagging, mold, mildew, and other problems. You can prolong the life of your roof by properly maintaining your roof’s gutter system, and keeping your gutters clean.
How Often Do You Clean Your Gutters?
Experts recommend gutter cleaning at least once or twice per year. Your gutters may need to be cleaned more often if there is more tree cover. This is because animal nests and plant material can cause gutter obstructions.
Most gutter experts recommend at least two cleanings per year – after both the fall and the spring seasons. During the fall, falling leaves and sticks may gather in your gutters, and during the spring season, pollen and seeds can quickly build up in the same channels.
Cleaning Dirty Gutters
In most instances, removing leaves and larger debris by hand or with a handheld electric blower will do the trick. You can follow this with water or gutter wash, and to remove any buildup, you can also use a gutter scraper. Start at the bottom and work your way upwards. It may be necessary to use a plumbing snake or power washer to remove larger clogs and address more significant buildup.
Signs You Need to Clean Your Gutters
There are some signs that your gutters might need to be cleaned, apart from your regular seasonal cleanings.
- If you can see visible debris around the gutter edges when standing at ground level.
- If your gutters have standing water.
- If your gutters are leaking or dripping.
- If water is pouring over the tops of your gutters during precipitation, instead of flowing out of the downspout.
- If you find that pests or other animals are living in your gutters.
- If your gutter spikes have been damaged.
- If downspout rivets have become loose or fallen out.
- If you see rust water has likely caused damage to your gutters’ paint and/or strength.
Maintenance: More than Cleaning
You can prevent gutter damage by doing some things other than seasonal cleaning.
- Check for cracks or damage to your gutters while you clean them. You can run some water through your gutters while you’re there to check for damage and holes. To prevent further damage, seal any damaged areas with silicone or caulk.
- Install gutter guards to your current gutter system. These covers prevent debris and other objects from clogging your gutters. They attach to the gutter and act as a strainer. Water can pass through, but larger debris is blocked. To divert more water away from your home, you might also consider installing an extension to your downspout or an irrigation pipe.
- If patching and cleaning are not enough to solve your problems, it might be time for a gutter replacement or repair. A whole section may need to be replaced if there are large cracks or splits. Sagging gutters may be a sign that your gutters are no longer functioning properly and need to be replaced.
A clean gutter is a functional gutter. Regular maintenance is important to avoid damage to your home or costly repairs, and gutters are no exception. Impact Roofing & Construction is the best choice if you’re looking for a reliable CSRA gutter installation company.
We can help you, whether you need to install new gutters or guards on your house or if your current gutter system is in dire need of an upgrade. We won’t disappoint you with unprofessional service or poor workmanship. If you’re in need of an Augusta and Evans GA gutters specialist, contact us today.
