This post was last updated on December 2nd, 2022 at 09:33 am
Responsible for ensuring water from showers and storms is led away from your home and its foundation, your gutters play an important role in helping you maintain your home. However, this does not mean your gutters never need any maintenance done to them now and then. In fact, it’s extremely important that you take excellent care of your gutters.
here are four tips you should always keep in mind.
Clean Them Out
First, take some time to clean out your gutters. If you have trees in your yard that drop their leaves each year, this is very important. Contrary to what many people think, stuff that accumulates in gutters does not simply get washed out through the downspout. In most cases, leaves, twigs, and other debris wind up clogging your downspout, resulting in water washing over the edges of your gutters and harming your home’s foundation.
Inspect For Damage
About once each month, take a few minutes to walk around your home so that you can inspect your gutters for signs of damage. Look for signs your gutters are rusted, are sagging or pulling away from your home, or that they have any cracks or holes that may have them leaking when it rains. If you notice any problems that look serious, you may want to contact professionals like Pelican Roofing for a damage assessment so that you can get your gutters repaired or replaced.
Downspout Extensions
More than likely, your home has splash blocks at the bottom of your downspouts. If so, this means the water exiting the downspouts only goes about a foot or two away from your home’s foundation. Instead of letting water stay that close to your home, consider adding downspout extensions. Flexible hoses that easily attach to the downspout, the extensions can carry water several feet from your home.
Gutter Guards
Finally, if you don’t enjoy cleaning out your gutters, installing gutter guards can help you eliminate this task from your list. Whether you install them yourself or have them done by professionals, gutter guards will prevent all types of debris from entering your gutters and getting them clogged. At the most, you may need to only sweep leaves or other debris from the top of the guards now and then.
If you take care of your gutters, they will in turn take care of your home. By making gutter maintenance a regular part of your home’s maintenance schedule, you’ll have peace of mind every time it rains.