When To Clean Your Gutters
Part of being a homeowner is engaging in regular maintenance and upkeep duties. Keeping your gutters clean is important for a safe and structurally-sound roof and foundation. However, many homeowners are unsure of how often they should be using the services of a professional home gutter cleaning service.
When and how often you should get your gutters cleaned depends on a number of factors. Additionally, there are preventative measures homeowners can take to help protect their gutter systems from clogging and other issues. Read on for more information.
The Bare Minimum
According to many professionals in the home gutter cleaning industry, an early spring and late fall cleaning are the two times per year that you should schedule a gutter cleaning. Cleaning your gutters early in spring ensures that any winter debris such as leaves, branches, and sediment is cleared so that spring rains can flow freely through your system.
In addition, a second gutter cleaning later in the fall season ensures that all fallen leaves and other debris are cleared so that any rain and snow will not get clogged somewhere. While these two times of year indicate the bare minimum in annual home gutter cleaning, your individual needs will vary depending on a number of other factors. These will be discussed in the following section.
Factors Impacting the Frequency of Gutter Cleaning
The frequency of home gutter cleaning depends mostly on the geography and climate of a particular residence. Gutter cleaners in Raleigh must account for our humid subtropical climate, with rainfall year-round and occasional frosts in winter.
Data from the national weather service indicates that Raleigh can incur tropical storms that bring high winds and heavy rains. Areas where higher instances of inclement weather and precipitation are common, home gutter cleaning should be conducted on a more regular basis.
The frequency of needing to get your gutters cleaned will also depend on how many trees are on or near your property. The more trees closeby, the more often you should expect to contact an experienced local home gutter cleaning service. A homeowner would be surprised at how quickly a single medium-sized tree can provide the necessary debris to clog a gutter.
How to Buy Yourself More Time
There are some preventative measures that homeowners can take to combat the stress and damage that clogged gutters can do to a home. For starters, installing gutter guards along your drainage system can help protect your gutters. Using a fine mesh screen/filter, gutter guards allow rainwater to flow in the gutters even if leaves and other debris are covering them.
Homeowners can also stay on top of regularly-scheduled tree trimmings for any nearby trees. Large trees in close proximity to the home pose a general safety risk in addition to contributing to gutter clogging.
Another preventative measure that many homeowners do not consider is the maintenance of their roof, including individual sections of shingles. As shingles age, they can crack and break away, becoming trapped in the gutters. Using tools such as roof rakes can exacerbate the issue. Conduct regular visual inspections of your roof and keep an eye out for any shingle debris in your gutters.
The Importance of Early Detection
The earlier you are able to find and fix issues with your gutters, the better. After a heavy storm or other weather event, check your gutters to make sure they are functioning properly. Also check your downspouts to ensure they are attached and draining adequately.
Getting Professional Gutter Cleaning
Some homeowners may believe that cleaning their gutters is a nice DIY project, but the job is almost always bigger than anticipated. In addition, proper safety gear is essential when getting on a ladder to clean gutters. The cost effectiveness of hiring a professional home gutter cleaning service like Peak Performance Gutter Cleaning in Raleigh compared to other costly services should be strongly considered when planning to clean your gutters. Click here to learn more.
