Let’s face it, gutters aren’t exactly the star of home maintenance conversations. But give them a little love, and they’ll pay you back by steering clear of costly water damages. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or looking to brush up on gutter care basics, getting ahead in gutter maintenance can save you from headaches down the road.
Regularly Clean Out Your Gutters
There are many benefits and perks of owning a home, but for many people, maintaining their home’s gutters is not high on the proverbial list. Although a home’s gutters are not necessarily an aspect of the home that owners can actively enjoy, its required regular maintenance is an important and critical aspect of ensuring that the structural integrity of the home stays intact so that its inhabitants can truly enjoy living in the space.
As small as your home’s gutters may be in respect to the rest of the home, it is an important home design feature that serves an important function. No matter the type of gutters you have, maintenance is crucial. Properly installed gutters keep the integrity of your home intact by draining water from rain away from your home, thwarting any unwanted and potentially costly water damage.
How Often to Clean Gutters
Experts recommend cleaning out your gutters at least twice a year, ideally in the spring and again in the fall. Keep in mind that if you live in an area that is heavily populated with trees, you may have to increase your annual gutter cleaning schedule to as frequently as twice a week to keep your gutters clear.
The average professional gutter cleaning cost is $0.80 per linear foot or between $85 and $160 for a single-story home. The cost of gutter cleaning depends on the size of your home, number of stories, roof pitch, and difficulty of access.
Tools Needed for Gutter Cleaning
Ask someone how to clean gutters and you’ll likely get a different answer from every person. Some like to use a power washer to clean gutters; others will clean gutters with gloves and a hose. Still others like to use a scoop to get at the debris. People have even cleaned gutters with a wet or dry vacuum, or a leaf blower. In the end, it doesn’t matter what you use to clean gutters, just that you clean them.
A bottle of gutter cleaner solution so you can remove stains on your gutters. Just spritz this on your gutters, use a little elbow grease, and your job is done.
Safety Precautions When Cleaning Gutters
Annual gutter cleaning is essential for maintaining the health of your gutters, but it’s more than that. But it’s not just about that; you’ve got to make sure your property always looks its absolute best.
- Gather Tools to Clean Gutters
- Place a Ladder on Level Ground
Inspect Your Downspouts for Clogs
The primary purpose of gutters and downspouts is to route water a safe distance away from your home, so the foundation, soil, and the exterior walls are protected. However, when gutters become clogged with leaves and debris, they tend to develop leaks, detach from the fascia and lead to other issues.
Once you have removed any debris from your gutters, you can use your garden hose to flush away residue. This also lets you make sure everything is moving freely in your gutters and downspouts.
Signs of a Clogged Downspout
A seemingly small, insignificant gutter leak or clog can quickly result in serious property damage and require costly repairs. As a result, if you do find a leak, you need to seal it off with a patch kit or silicone.
How to Clear a Clogged Downspout
A hose will do the trick to clean out your gutters, whereas something with a bit more power, like a plumbing snake or high-pressure water may be needed to dislodge objects like compacted leaves, pine needles and twigs from your downspouts. You’ll be glad you took the time to clear them and thus ensure that your entire gutter system is running smoothly and correctly.
Preventing Future Downspout Clogs
To prevent the need for frequent repairs or substantial replacements, it’s essential to maintain a routine cleaning schedule for your gutters and downspouts and downspouts. Letting leaves and other bits pile up can really put a damper on your system, possibly causing leaks or holes among other headaches.
Install Gutter Guards to Protect Your Gutters
The Brothers that just do Gutters offer comprehensive services to address these challenges. Their team of experts can assess the condition of your gutters, perform necessary cleaning and repairs, and even install gutter guards to prevent future clogs. With their help, homeowners can rest assured that their gutter systems are prepared to handle the increased rainfall of the season.
Types of Gutter Guards
There are several types of gutter guards available, including:
- All American Gutter Protection
- Homecraft Gutter Protection
- Leaf Guard
- MasterShield
- Gutterglove Pro
Benefits of Installing Gutter Guards
However, you can reduce the cost of hiring professional gutter cleaners by installing a proven gutter guard protection system. Gutter guards are cost-effective, and are a proven barrier against debris, allowing only water through, preventing clogged gutters and the potential water damage to your home that they can cause.
How to Choose the Right Gutter Guards
Gutter helmets or covers may assist in keeping large objects of debris from clogging up your gutters, but if you live in an area populated with a lot of trees, like pine, you will need to inspect these regularly to ensure that they are free of pine needles, leaves and other debris. While a helmet typically snaps onto the top front of the gutter and drains through a cutout at the end of it, a helmet cover is flat and sits on top of the gutter, acting like a drain with its perforated screen.
WARNING: Beware that bees and wasps have been known to seek out and use helmet covers as the perfect location for their nests, so you should inspect your helmet covers regularly not only to make sure they are clog- and debris-free, but they have not been inhabited.
Consider Installing Downspout Extensions and Splash Blocks
Happy Home Gutter Care offers gutter cleaning services in Cincinnati, Louisville, Greenville, and Nashville. They can clean the inside and outside of gutters on multi-story homes to ensure proper drainage.
Benefits of Downspout Extensions
Downspout extensions and splash blocks help direct water away from your home’s foundation, preventing water damage and erosion. They also help prevent water from pooling around your home, which can attract pests and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
How to Install Downspout Extensions
Installing downspout extensions is a relatively simple process that can be done by most homeowners. First, measure the distance from the end of your downspout to the desired location for the extension. Then, purchase the appropriate length of extension and attach it to the end of your downspout using screws or rivets.
Choosing the Right Splash Block
When choosing a splash block, consider the size and shape of your downspout, as well as the slope of your yard. A larger splash block may be necessary for homes with steeper slopes or larger downspouts. Additionally, look for a splash block with a textured surface to help prevent water from splashing back onto your home’s foundation.
Perform Regular Gutter Maintenance
“Investing in your gutters is an investment in your home’s overall health,” says Horboychuk. “We provide top-quality service to ensure your gutters are functioning at their best. Don’t let April showers lead to costly repairs; take proactive steps to maintain your gutters today.”
Inspecting Gutters for Damage
Regularly walk around your home and visually inspect your gutters. Do you see any signs of rust or corrosion? Are your gutters dropping? Do you see any cracks? If you see small cracks, holes or gaps, you may be able to seal the leaks with gutter seal. If the damage appears to be extensive, or if your gutters are falling away from your home, you may have to call a gutter repair company to add gutter brackets and replace severely damaged sections.
Common Gutter Repairs
Some common gutter repairs include:
- Sealing leaks and holes
- Reattaching loose gutters
- Replacing damaged sections
- Realigning gutters for proper drainage
When to Replace Gutters
If you need gutter repair or replacement, rather than a new installation, prospective gutter installation companies can offer valuable guidance to help you determine the best course of action for your home. For instance, if you have a few minor holes in a small section of your gutter, a repair may work. However, if you’re noticing ongoing issues like consistently loose screws, numerous holes, significant cracks or corrosion, replacement may be a necessary step.
Avoid These Common Gutter Cleaning Mistakes
Homeowners are often unaware of the importance of gutter cleaning and ongoing maintenance, which can result in a costly oversight. When gutters are routinely inspected and cleaned, issues can be identified and corrected before major problems develop.
Not Cleaning Gutters Often Enough
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is not cleaning their gutters often enough. Depending on the number of trees near your home, you may need to clean your gutters as often as every few months to prevent clogs and damage.
Cleaning Gutters at the Wrong Time
Another mistake is cleaning gutters at the wrong time of year. The best time to clean gutters is in the fall after most of the leaves have fallen and in the spring after any remaining debris has been washed away by rain or melting snow.
Not Using Proper Safety Gear
Last but not least, a common slip-up among homeowners is skipping out on the right safety gear when it comes to gutter cleaning. Always use a sturdy ladder and wear gloves and eye protection to prevent injuries.
Gutter Maintenance FAQs:
How do you maintain guttering?
To keep gutters in top shape, clean them twice a year. Spring and fall are the best times to prevent clogs and damage.
How do you maintain roof gutters?
Inspect and clear out leaves, sticks, and debris regularly. Also, check for leaks or misalignments that can cause water issues.
How do I keep my gutters looking new?
Clean them often, apply rust protection if needed, and touch up with paint to tackle peeling or fading spots.
What is the average cost of gutter cleaning in my area?
Gutter cleaning prices vary but expect to pay between $70-$200 depending on your home’s size and gutter complexity.
Conclusion
Gutter maintenance might not top your list of fun weekend activities, but its importance cannot be overstated. From avoiding foundation issues to preventing unwanted guests like mold and mildew—taking time out for this unsung hero of home maintenance is a no-brainer. Looking to hire a pro instead? Book someone local HERE.
