Gutters are an important part of protecting your home from bad weather, but they need to be kept in good repair in order for them to be effective. There is no point in having a gutter that isn’t working. Luckily, gutter maintenance is relatively easy.
Look for Leaks
In order for your gutter to be effective, it needs to actually be able to redirect the water away from your home. Leaks not only prevent your gutter from being effective, but they can also be early warning signs that your gutter needs repair or that a connection has come loose somewhere. The best time to test your gutter for leaks is when there has been no rain for a couple of days so you can be sure that the gutter is dry. Start by pouring water in one end and have other people watch to see if there is water dripping anywhere. When you note the spots, you can check them more closely to see what kind of repairs you need. You should test your gutters at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, but it never hurts to check more often, especially if you have large storms.
Check Attachments
In addition to making sure that your gutters aren’t leaking, you need to make sure that they are properly attached to your home. Loose gutters aren’t just ineffective, they can also be dangerous if they fall and they can cause damage to your roof by taking part of it down. Properly attached gutters should be secure and should always be sloped towards the downspouts for proper drainage. They also shouldn’t be pulling away from the house. All of these issues can be easily identified from a visual inspection that you can conduct at the same time you are checking your gutters for leaks.
Remove Debris
Clogged gutters are probably the number one problem that people deal with when it comes to their gutters. You should be regularly checking for the build-up of dirt, leaves, and other things that could prevent your gutter from functioning properly. While you could get up on a ladder and clear it out every time things start to build up, it is much more effective to use a gutter protection system to prevent debris from getting in there in the first place. A high quality gutter protection system when installed over your gutter will always allow the water in, while keeping the debris out. Not only does this save you work, but it also protects your gutter from damage.
Keeping up with your gutter maintenance will ensure that not only is your home protected, but you also won’t have to worry about costly repairs. Most problems can be caught early and corrected easily, so make sure you don’t skip out on the inspections!
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