Gutters play an important role in keeping your home safe from water damage. Not only do they help direct rainwater away from your foundation and roof, but they also keep the area below your home free of debris and pests. That’s why it is so important to clean and maintain your gutters.
Read on for helpful information and tips about gutter maintenance!
What is Gutter Maintenance and Why is it Important?
Gutter maintenance is the process of regularly cleaning and inspecting your gutters to ensure that they are free of debris and functioning properly. This is important for several reasons:
Prevent Roof Damage
Clogged gutters can cause water to back up onto your roof, which can lead to leaks and other damage. For example, excess moisture can cause roof rot, weaken your roof’s construction and support components, and allow water to seep into your home. These are all very costly problems that can be prevented by regular gutter maintenance!
Protect Walls and Foundation
Gutters that are not properly maintained can allow water to seep into your home’s walls and foundation. This can lead to cracks and other structural problems, including windows and doors that won’t close properly, uneven floors, and cracks in the floors and walls.
Deter Pests
Gutters that are full of debris provide a perfect breeding ground for pests such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rats. Regularly cleaning your gutters will help keep these pests at bay.
3 Tips for Keeping Your Gutters Clean
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of gutter maintenance, let’s look at some tips for keeping your gutters clean.
- Make sure to clean your gutters at least once a year, and more often if you live in an area with heavy rainfall or lots of trees.
- If you have trees near your home, be sure to inspect your gutters for leaves and other debris on a monthly basis.
- Never attempt to clean your gutters while they are wet or icy – wait for a sunny day so that the debris is dry and easier to remove.
Hiring a Pro for the Job
While it is possible to clean your gutters yourself, we recommend hiring a professional gutter cleaner at least once a year. This will ensure that your gutters are properly cleaned and inspected, and can help prevent any future problems. Bristlewood Roofing provides convenient cleaning and inspections to keep your gutters in great shape.
Installing Gutter Guards
If you’re looking for an additional way to reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning your gutters, consider installing gutter guards. Gutter guards are covers that fit over your gutters and help to keep leaves and other debris out. While they will not completely eliminate the need for gutter cleaning, they can greatly reduce the frequency with which you need to clean them.
Whatever your gutter needs are, our team at Bristlewood is ready to help. We provide gutter guard installation, gutter cleaning, inspection, repair, and replacement services. Give us a call to learn more! We look forward to keeping your gutters, roof, and home safe.