As homeowners, we always want to do what we can to minimize the risk of damage to a home, but without it taking too much of our time. Gutters are the silent workhorses that protect your foundation, which is the structure beneath your home. However, they often are forgotten about because they blend into the roof lining. Most people don’t even think about them until they are seeing water issues around their home. Although a gutter system isn’t exactly glamorous, it requires regular maintenance in order to function properly. Your gutter working at peak performance is a critical part of making sure the structural integrity of the home is maintained.
Gutters that are not properly cared for will malfunction. This can result in an accumulation of water around the foundation of your home, mold, and in more serious scenarios flooding of your home’s basement. Here are some tips to take care of your gutters properly.
Clean Your Gutters Regularly
Cleaning out gutters is nobody’s idea of fun. It is dirty and can be dangerous if you have to get onto a high ladder. Also, if there is anything like leaves or debris compacted in the gutter or downspout you may need a high pressured water system to fully clear the gutters out. We recommend cleaning your gutters twice a year. In the spring and in the fall, but if you live on a property that has a lot of trees you may want to add a cleaning into your monthly routine.
Install a Gutter Guard
Gutter guards are also known as gutter screens, helmets, or covers. They’re placed over the tops of your gutters to prevent leaves, twigs and other debris from entering. Ideally, these guards will save you time and money in the long run by reducing maintenance costs. In the Spokane and Coeurd’Alene areas, we get a lot of hard rain. This rain can at times be too much for a gutter system to handle. You will notice this if after a hard rainfall there is dirt against your home or the soil next to your home has been disturbed due to the force of the rain hitting the ground. Splash gutter guards should be installed at the base of your home’s downspouts as well as on the roof itself to ensure that water is effectively drained away from the home and adequately protecting your roof from unwanted mold and mildew damage.
If you live in an area that is heavily populated with trees, you may want to consider installing leaf gutter guards, which prevent leaves and large pieces of debris from clogging up your gutters. To maintain your leaf gutter guards, check and clean them out at least two times a year.
Gutter guards are worth the price tag as they make maintenance easier and the efficiency of your gutters better. If you need help with your gutters or would like to learn more about gutter guards for the Hayden, Spokane, and Ceourd’Alene areas please reach out to us.