IMPORTANCE OF GUTTER CLEANING

Your gutters are typically made up of interconnected troughs. These troughs channel water to and down your downspouts and ultimately away from your home. However, after fall, gutters tend to be clogged with leaves. The clogged gutter can result in the water backing up which can essentially damage your homes walls or foundation. It can ruin a home inside and out.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the reasons why you should absolutely have an annual gutter cleaning done on your home.

1.    Protect Your Home From Water Damage
Water damage can cause major problems in your home. It can cause mold and mildew to grow and can also weaken your homes foundation and walls. In some areas experts suggest that the drain pipe should extend at least five feet from your home. They also suggest that the entire gutter system gets inspected seasonally for corrosion, broken fasteners, separation between the connections and where the gutters meet the fascia.

2.    An Experts Eye
Although there is no unwritten rule that says you should use a professional gutter cleaning company to clean or inspect your gutters, there are benefits to doing that. A professional would likely spot things with an expert eye that you may miss. Water damage can be tricky. Sometimes what looks like a small problem could actually be a much larger issue.

3.    Animals and Insects
A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris also makes a nice home for pests, rodents, and bees. Gutters are a potential bomb above your head full of insects and critters, if you let them stay out of sight, out of mind.

With all this being said, you may be wondering, “How often should I be having my gutters cleaned?”

The short answer is at least twice per year. Ideally, you should have any debris removed after the leaves have fallen from the trees near your home. However, there are instances when you should remove the debris from your gutters more than just two times each year. A good example may be after a severe storm which blew substantial leaves, twigs, and other debris onto your roof.  Also, if you have several trees with branches that hang over (and drop leaves onto) your roof, your home may require more frequent gutter cleanings.

If you want to minimize the number of times each year that you clean your gutters you may want to think about installing a gutter protection system. ProGuard is a great product which keeps solid debris out of your gutters. You can also flush out your downspouts when you do clean your gutters to prevent debris accumulation inside them.

April, Office Manager at Squeegee Pros