The Importance of Gutter Cleaning

Lots of house owners clean their own rain gutters or hire somebody each season to properly preserve their houses. What you may not understand is that most gutter systems especially those systems that do not utilize some sort of gutter guard should be cleaned several times a year generally with each change in season.

You may be wondering why I should clean up out my rain gutters so frequently? The end of summer or late fall is probably the most critical time to clean your gutters. That is the season of falling leaves and windblown branches that have a tendency to find their way into your gutter system.

You want to make sure everything has actually been cleared from your gutter system. This cleaning helps to prevent problems such as ice dams or frozen clogged downspouts in your gutter system. It is always important to keep in mind that lackadaisical gutter upkeep will most likely lead to damaged gutters and will most likely end up causing thousands of dollars in damages to other areas of your home including your exterior trim or siding, and maybe even your foundation.

To clean your rain gutters properly, it's best to get a sturdy ladder as well as one of your neighbors or family members to give you a hand. Additionally, it's also a good idea to utilize something called a ladder stabilizer. This device is designed to ensure the ladder does not crush your gutters or slip while you're doing the cleaning. Most people already have a ladder, but the ladder stabilizers can be purchased at most hardware stores for about $30.00.

If you have rain gutter screens or rain gutter guards, make sure that they are damage free or blocked with debris. They cannot help in the protection of the gutters if the water can't drain into them properly, thus making them ineffective.

While you're up there cleaning your gutters, it's also a good idea to make sure all of the fasteners and "spikes" are adequately secured. Many times you may find that gradually, the spikes that hold the aluminum to the fascia board have actually become loose or rusted. You might be able to drive the loose spikes back into the facia or if necessary, change them out with longer ones for improved performance.

This is important because if the gutter pitch gets changed the water will overflow to the low areas and cause even more problems. While you're up on that ladder and so close to the roof, take a look to make sure the roofing system is also in good repair. If necessary, you may also want to contact a good roof repair company to do a general inspection.

If you have any questions or concerns about your gutters or the upkeep on your gutters, gutter guard systems, feel free to contact us. For more information about rain gutter cleaning, guard systems or our other services, see our website at https://akrongutterrepair.com.

Gutter cleaning