Do Various Weather Patterns Impact Recommended Gutter Maintenance?

Gutters are a crucial part of home preservation, yet many times they are out of sight, out of mind. Gutters and downspouts are important as they keep water away from the home and prevent flooding, mold, and other types of detrimental water damage.

For gutters to remain efficient, there are recommended maintenance steps that should be taken! These maintenance steps change depending on weather conditions. Rain, snow, or shine, gutters need to be cleaned at minimum, once a year. They can be cleaned either by a professional, or done as a DIY project.

Gutters tend to collect debris and leaves throughout the year, especially during the fall. The twigs, leaves, needles, and other debris need to be cleaned out to prevent water build up. Water build up can cause stress on the gutters and in turn cause them to leak, pull away from the house, etc. Really, water build up can just make gutters less effective. Water build up can also cause an increase in disease carrying bugs, such as, mosquitoes that carry various viruses. If in an area with a larger tree population, gutters will need to be cleaned and maintained more than just once a year.

Impact of Weather on Gutters

Weather can play a huge roll in the condition of your gutters. A few types of weather that really make an impact are:

• Wind: causes more debris to blow into and get settled inside your gutters.
• Hot weather: excessive heat can cause gutters to warp.
• Snow, ice, and cold temperatures: if your gutters have standing water, snow accumulation and ice will cause the water to freeze. Ice is heavy and may wear on gutters, causing them to crack, sag and possibly break free from the house. Ice dams can also result from cold weather. Ice dams are the accumulation of ice on the edge of the roof that traps in water.

Preparation Maintenance for Weather Conditions

• Wind: constantly monitor gutters and clear them of debris.
• Snow, ice and cold temperatures: ensure gutters are cleaned out before the onset of cold weather to avoid water and possible ice accumulation. In the case of an ice dam, use a blunt tool to break the ice so that no damage is caused to the roof or gutter, or melt the ice with calcium chloride. Then clean out the gutter as normal.
• Hot weather: ensure gutters are clear after rain storms (best to clean once the gutter dries out). Debris filled gutters are more prone to warping from the heat.

To learn more about recommended gutter cleaning maintenance for your home, call the experts at Gutter Professionals, Inc. today!

 

POSTED ON December 13, 2016 // 0 COMMENTS