Look at the image above⬆️⬆️⬆️. Has this ever happened to you? Water was falling from the roof like it was Niagara Falls. The water was falling so hard that it started to back up into the home. I grabbed a bathroom towel to prevent the water from getting farther inside!
So, why was that happening? If it happened to me, how can you prevent it from happening to you? This and more will be discussed in my post today. Here in Connecticut we just had some rough rain come through. There is no better time than now to discuss the importance of cleaning your gutters regularly.
Yes, the water falling off the side of the house like that, is because the gutters are failing. Regular gutter cleaning is essential for maintaining the integrity of your home and preventing costly repairs.
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Gutters are a system of channels that are installed along the eaves of a roof to collect rainwater and direct it away from the foundation of a house. If water isn't directed away from the house, you end up with issues like in the above photo.
Rainwater that runs down the sides of a house can also cause water damage to the siding and exterior walls. Not only that, when rainwater flows off the roof and onto the ground around the foundation, it can seep into the soil and cause erosion. This can damage the foundation and lead to leaks and other problems.
If you have a flower or plant garden around your home, like most do, water flowing down the house on to the ground can wash away them. Did you know, a clogged gutter can also lead to water backing up into your roof and attic?
You may be asking how does this all happen?
A gutter's worst enemy is a tree. Trees are needed for oxygen, but their leaves and twigs/branches are the number one reason why gutters clog. There is also debris from your roof, and even from the ground that has been blown up believe or not.
Now this can all be prevented by simply cleaning your gutters on a regular basis. Imagine how much money you could be saving in costly repairs by doing the simplest of tasks.
The alternative is fix costly repairs or watch your property value plummet, because of all this damage. Clean gutters also add to the curb appeal of your home.
Now what is the proper procedure in cleaning your gutters? I am not one to climb ladders or walk on roofs, so my answer would be to hire a professional.
If you are one to DIY it, here is how. You can either climb a ladder like the man is doing above⬆️⬆️⬆️ and just take everything out by hand. In this example you would need to run water or air down to the downspout too. Make sure everything is unclogged.
Another option is to get on your roof with a leaf blower, and blow everything out of the gutters. Again, make sure to also clear the downspouts.
How often should you do this? The general rule is twice a year. Once at the beginning of spring, and again in the fall after the leaves have fallen off the trees. There are also exceptions to the rule. Most importantly, if you see water just flowing down your house, where you have a gutter, than that is an indication it is time for a cleaning.
I hope this post helped you on this rainy Wednesday. If you live in Connecticut and you are looking for professional gutter assistance, reach out to me, and I can make some recommendations.
