3 Businesses Tips from Someone With Experience
Reasons Why It is Important to Clean Your Gutters
The need to clean your gutters is often a question that many homeowners would wonder why. First of all, water will be prevented from passing on your gutter if debris will be clogging them up. As water is backed up, there is a possibility of damaging your roof and your house below. If the water is directed away from your house, it may flow on your foundation, window well, or onto your yard, causing flooding and possible damage.
In times of winter, icicles usually form in the gutters, and this will weigh down your gutters, leading to nails falling out and turning gutters into loose, which could fall down and creates hazard to the people and objects below them. Note that if gutters are clogged, there is a faster formation of ice that results to ice dams and will make you spend for expensive repairs. Therefore, cleaning your gutters regularly will help avoid a more expensive solution to your gutter problems.
So you may be aware to clean your gutters, but the next question would be when is the best time to clean them. The recommended seasons to clean the gutters are during autumn when leaves begin to fall and are falling, and in late spring or early summer as fruits, blooms, seeds and others could fall onto the gutters. But, if you see some gutter problems, it is advisable to clean them right away at any time of the year.
Take note that you are to access your gutters in a safe manner. As you start to clean your gutters, be reminded that they are not strong enough to carry your weight or accommodate aggressive cleaning materials. When cleaning the gutters, it is therefore advisable to use a step ladder for easy and safe way to conduct the task. As you are go through the cleaning process of your gutters, avoid power lines to be safe.
It is recommended to have ready your gutter cleaning tools like a bucket, a pair of waterproof gloves, and a plastic gardening trowel. To avoid damage or dent on your gutters, do not use sharp trowels.
During the winter season, ice may build up in some parts of the gutters, and when this happen, buy a heat tape from your local hardware store, lay it inside the gutter and plug it in. Once the heat tape is warming, the ice will be cut through and its debris will make it easy for removal.
Cleaning your downspout is also as important as cleaning the gutters since water may not also drain if it is clogged up.