Don't Wait – Clean Your Gutters Now
Clean gutters can save money and prevent damage to your home.
Nothing beats spending time with family and friends in a warm, cozy house in the middle of winter. Before it gets too cold though, take some time for inspecting and cleaning your rain gutters. Your gutters have an important job to do by diverting water away from your house, and if they’re clogged or not working properly, the resulting water damage can be expensive to repair.
Here are five reasons why cleaning your rain gutters is an important part of your fall home maintenance checklist.
- Last year’s snow and ice could have caused gutters and downspouts to weaken, sag or begin pulling away from your home and not drain water properly. Make sure they are well secured and leak-free, and that they divert water away from your home.
- Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to ice dams which prevent melting snow from draining off the roof. Left unchecked, ice dams can let water back up into your house, damaging ceilings and walls.
- Poorly draining gutters and downspouts can trap snow and ice and add to the weight load on your roof.
- Gutters that are clogged will overflow and not divert water from your home. This may lead to water seeping into your home at the foundation.
- Gutters clogged with leaves and twigs can be an inviting place for birds and rodents to nest.
Lastly, prune any trees or branches that hang over your roof. Any leaves or twigs that fall off could re-clog your gutters.
Always remember that climbing ladders to clean or inspect your gutters can be dangerous. If you’re uncomfortable on ladders, consult a roofing contractor.
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