Maintenance Tips to Make Your Gutters Last Longer
Gutters are one of your home’s most important lines of defense against the weather. They divert rainwater away from the exterior and reduce the risk of damage to your landscaping, roof, and even your foundation. So how do you keep your rain gutters in good condition? By recognizing the importance of gutter maintenance. There’s a lot you can do to prevent damage, such as keeping up with regular gutter cleaning, installing gutter protection, clearing out downspouts, and asking professionals for help. Follow these gutter maintenance tips for your best chance at giving your gutters a long life.
The importance of gutter maintenance
Gutter cleaning frequency depends on a variety of factors, including the weather, location, gutter material, time of year, and quality of installation. Most traditional gutters require gutter cleaning anywhere from 2 to 4 times a year, but that number can vary.
Each season brings new challenges to your gutters, particularly in a 4-season region such as the Midwest. Here, we face snow and ice in the winter, heavy spring and summer rains, and falling leaves in autumn. Thunderstorms, strong winds, and other weather events can rip leaves, seeds, and twigs off nearby trees and deposit them straight into your gutters. Get gutter maintenance tips for any weather.
One of the first things you should do after experiencing a storm is to inspect your home’s exterior. Clogged or damaged gutters need to be addressed immediately rather than be ignored since gutter maintenance is so integral to the functioning of your home’s exterior.
If you’re concerned about gutter cleaning in winter, these gutter cleaning tools can help.
How to maintain gutters at home
Gutter cleaning isn’t a fun job, but it’s necessary with traditional gutters. The first step to maintaining gutters is to climb on a ladder and inspect the inside. Use your hose to wash the exterior and flush small bits of debris on the inside of your gutter. You might need to scoop out larger objects or clogs with your hands.
When it comes to gutter maintenance, pressure washers sometimes are useful, but be careful of potential damage, particularly if you have vinyl gutters, which are susceptible to cracking. Aluminum and copper gutters won’t crack, but copper can corrode. If you have filters or screens attached to your gutters, they’ll also need to be maintained. Screens catch debris, which accumulates and can cause overflow if not regularly cleaned. Another spot to inspect is your downspouts. If something is blocking the water from exiting your downspout (like a bird nest), that will back up the whole system.
Expert advice on gutter maintenance & replacements
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by gutter maintenance, or if you think your gutters may be in need of repair or replacement, it’s time to call us at LeafGuard of Cincinnati for a complimentary estimate.
Author: Jeff Anderson
