A Comprehensive Guide for Gutter Maintenance

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Gutters should be cleaned once in a while to prevent water damage, mold growth, and pest infections.
• To maintain your home’s structural foundation and integrity, gutter maintenance is important.
• Use the proper tools and ladders if required to get the best result. 
• Do the cleaning in dry or calm weather. 
• Make sure to clean the roof first before going for the gutters.

Ever thought that your blocked gutters are the reason your house is having constant issues and repairs? Yes, that’s true because it can lead to leakage in walls, ceiling damage, insect infestations, and more such problems. 

People often intend to ignore this issue until it turns into something drastic, chaotic, and expensive to get it fixed. I agree that this doesn’t look that harmless, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

Keeping this in mind, I’m here with a comprehensive guide for gutter maintenance so you know what needs to be done. Let’s get started.

It Starts with Home Maintenance

Your house needs to be prepared for every season, especially fall and winter, as they are the harshest. During fall, life starts to ramp up in higher gear as kids get back to school, new schedules form, which is why you get a shorter time for the homely must-be-done projects.

While you might put off some projects, cleaning gutters and opting for a professional gutter company like Superior Gutter and Roofing for homeowners in Idaho, is an absolute must-do. These services offer the best installations, gutter repairs, and maintenance that won’t just fade away. The company might also offer other home repairs, including gutter cleaning, insurance assistance, and roof inspection. Basically, all your needs would be taken care of in one place.

Clean Gutters Are Part of Home Maintenance

You should know that cleaning gutters is a crucial part of effective home maintenance. The underlying reason why this is noteworthy is that proper gutter management is key to maintaining the structural strength of the foundation of your house.

If the gutters are cleaned effectively and that too regularly, the above-mentioned problem won’t arise. This includes: 

Water Damage

If the gutters are cleaned frequently and are a part of regular home maintenance, water damage issues can be avoided easily. The water coming down from the roof can pour over the gutters and finally fall near the foundation of your house, which can cause basement leaks and erosion. 

Mold Growth

By regularly and effectively cleaning your gutters, you can avoid mold growth. You should know that mold grows on spots where water hasn’t evaporated fast enough. Molds are not easy to deal they can be quite challenging, and if not taken care of can cause serious health issues. Below, you can see the neurological effects of mold. 

Pest Infestation

By regularly cleaning the gutters, you can prevent pests from entering your house. Small animals like squirrels, rodents, and pests intend to take shelter in the gutters because of the easy accessibility. But if it’s being taken care of, they won’t be able to do so and prevent pest infestation.  

How to Clean the Gutters the Right Way

The effective way of cleaning your gutter is to wash it thoroughly twice a year. However, there are no fixed rules, as you might have to clean the gutters more often based on where you reside and what the weather scenarios are.

For instance, if your house is surrounded by loads of trees, there is a high chance that you might have to clean the gutters more often. In order to clean the gutters, you need to know about the spring debris and fall leaves. They can cause some serious issues if they aren’t dealt with on time. 

Prioritize Safety – Use A Proper Ladder

Your safety and your well-being come before everything else. Each home has unique features that you need to be aware of. Standard homes can be dangerous themselves. While doing an inspection, you may come across cracked pipes or other similar damages while draining the gutters. 

If you have a custom built home, this can come with it’s own complications as well. For Idaho Homes, a custom home builder, like Oakmont Custom Homes, will offer unique designs specific to your taste. But this means more to be aware of when looking at your roof and gutters. 
 
And remember, the more floors your home has, the more dangerous it is. So stay safe. 

Clean the Gutters on A Sunny Day

To clean a gutter effectively, you must choose a day when there is no risk of snow, high winds, or rain. Before doing anything, take a look at the weather; if it seems in your favor, go for it.

However, if you detect that the winds are high or that it will be rainy, you might want to postpone the home improvement and maintenance project and decide another day to clean the gutters. 

Clean the Roof First 

The next important thing to do is to clean the roof first and remove any debris or leaves from the roof as best as you can. It’s worth mentioning that this is a significant step and can’t be missed. A messy roof will stand in your way of cleaning the gutters. 

However, before you climb up the roof, make sure that you are wearing appropriate clothes, such as long-sleeved clothes. Make sure to keep a bucket around as it comes quite handy with collecting debris from the gutters.

Also, it is recommended to have a bucket handy to collect the debris from the gutters. 

DO YOU KNOW?
Approximately 99% of gutters are known to fail at some point, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance.(Source: Town Building Systems)

Use A Hose to Spray the Gutters

While removing gunk from the gutters, always start from the downspouts and don’t stand close to the location while cleaning. This way, you can prevent the gutter from getting reclogged.

Also, you should use a hose to remove any of the remaining gunk and spray water through the gutters. It is an effective way to find out any potential leaks that might appear later for repair. 

Final Thoughts

In order to get your gutters clean, make sure to use the right equipment, as they have quite an impact. For instance, you might want to use a plastic scoop to remove the gunk and a hose to clean out the remaining residue from the gutter.