Gutter Maintenance for Your Home

By Hubert Miles

Gutters, as many of you already know, are responsible for capturing the rain runoff from your roof during a storm. The gutters then through either a above ground or underground method discharge the water away from the foundation of the home. This process when functioning properly helps to protect the exterior of the home, foundation, and basement from moisture damage.

Often times when gutters are installed on a home owners tend to forget that they need to be cleaned on a regular basis. When neglected, gutters tend to get clogged over time with leaves and straw. As gutters become blocked, the water can't drain out as needed and the water will backup and overflow the gutter walls into the eaves on the home. This will eventually cause the wood on the eaves and the roof to rot and put unnecessary weight on the gutters.

It is important that two times a year you get your gutters cleaned. Many people think that if they don't have trees around their home that they don't need to clean their gutters, but that's not the case. Birds and the wind can aid in debris ending up in your gutters. You may need to get your gutters cleaned four times a year if you have a lot of trees in your yard.

You can also enter into a service contract with a gutter installer to provide routine cleaning and inspection of the gutters. Under a service contract such as this, the installer will check for problems with the gutters and clean out any debris that could clog the downspouts. Many of these agreements come with a limited warranty.

If you choose you can clean your gutters yourself. Just be sure you do it safely. Always use caution when climbing a ladder or walking on the roof. If your home has a steep roof or is taller than one story, you may want to consider letting a professional handle the job. Saving a few bucks is not worth getting injured over.

Closing remarks

Keeping your gutters clean is a very important part of preserving your homes exterior, interior, and foundation. This is a task that will be well worth the money spent in the long run. - 31515

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