Cleaning Gutters: Why, When and How
Gutters are probably not something you think about too often but gutter cleaning is an important once-a-year ritual all property owners should adopt for their rental properties.
The first sign of fall is unmistakable; leaves start to change color. It’s a beautiful sight, but it’s also a sign of a whole lot of work ahead. Leaves will soon fall off and many of them will end up in your gutters. Gutters are probably not something you think about too often but gutter cleaning is an important once-a-year ritual all property owners should adopt for their rental properties.
What happens when gutters get clogged?
Gutters perform a simple yet important role in protecting the structural integrity of your house. They ensure that water from rain and snow doesn’t accumulate on the roof or just pour off the roof and fall at the foundation of your home potentially causing erosion or leaks. If the water is no longer able to run through smoothly, it will accumulate on your roof and could cause roof and ceiling leaks, which are very expensive to fix. Over time the moisture can cause rot in wood eventually leading to foundation damage and issues with the home's structure. Any water that doesn’t drain is likely to freeze in winter temperatures and cause gutters to warp and crack under the additional pressure.
Leaking basements
Melting snow that isn’t draining properly can puddle around your foundation, resulting in leaks in your basement. A leaking basement is one of the most dangerous and expensive effects as it can result in a gas leak, electrical shock and pollutants in your home.
“moisture can cause rot in wood eventually”
On-going Maintenance for Healthy Gutters
Soggy leaves and other debris are the primary causes for gutter clogs, blocking water and allowing it to pool. Going into winter with a full season of autumn leaves blocking your gutters may be a very costly mistake as gutters are not cheap to replace. This is why regular gutter maintenance is so important. A small investment of time and money now will save you a ton in the future. A maintenance professional with a tall ladder can use a leaf blower to remove all the leaves from the gutter and get it ready for winter weather.
So, when do you need to clean your gutters?
The timing of cleaning your gutters can prolong their life and minimize damage. By November or early December most of the leaves will have fallen so you can clean your gutters knowing the majority of common debris has already accumulated. You can get a second cleaning done after the spring especially if it was a wet winter.