Cleaning Your Gutters - North Twin Builders
Cleaning Your Wisconsin Home’s Gutters This Spring
You cleaned your gutters in the fall before the snow came (hopefully!), and now as spring peeks around the corner here in Wisconsin, your gutters are probably the farthest thing from your mind. But now is a good time to check them again, as the fall winds and melting winter snow may have filled them with debris. Clogged gutters open your home up to the potential of water damage, and there’s a good chance you won’t notice it until your home requires expensive repairs.
Don’t Forget to Check Gutter Guards
Even if you have gutter guards, there is still a possibility that you have buildup. There are some inferior products out there that may not work as well as they advertise. Your best bet is to check your gutters every so often to make sure that there aren’t any developing problems that can quickly turn into major issues.
You may also want to do some research on different gutter guards and their reviews to find a quality product for your home. We recommend micro mesh gutter guards – the holes are so small that they will keep out pine needles and even roof grit. This type of gutter guard also works as a first-stage filter for rain water harvesting (See picture below).
Gutter Clogs Can Cause Irreparable Damage to Your Wisconsin Home
Gutters can have their lifespan cut by up to 70% if they are not kept clean of debris and gutter clogs. Here are some of the common problems associated with dirty gutters:
- Additional weight can take its toll on the holding power of the spike and it begins to loosen. As each spike loses its hold, the next one in line takes the stress until about 3-4 spikes come loose and then the gutter begins to roll forward and to twist. Once too many spikes come loose, the weight provides too much leverage and the gutter falls to the ground. This often leaves the gutter deformed and beyond repair, making it necessary to replace the entire thing.
- Excess weight can also cause leaks at the end caps and corner miters, due to increased pressure. This can cause considerable damage if not fixed in time.
- If gutters are not properly cleaned, the debris begins to break down. The water becomes acidic and begins to corrode. If left in this state, this can cause permanent damage to the material, leading to premature replacement.
Gutter Cleaning Is Important Home Maintenance
It is recommended that you clean out your gutters at least twice per year, in spring and fall. If you have trees near your home (like many houses in Wisconsin), you may have to clean them more often.
When gutters clog, water cannot move around properly and will overflow. Properly functioning gutters are essential for all homes, as they manage the water runoff from your roof. Without this protection, water follows the path of least resistance and over time, it can erode a path that leads directly into your home’s foundation.
Safety is Key For Any Home Maintenance Task
Because cleaning your gutters requires the use of a ladder, we suggest that you use extreme caution when undertaking this task. Your best bet is to utilize the services of a professional. Not only will they get the job done safely, many times they can spot potential problems that you might miss. This professional training could end of saving you a lot of money and headaches later on down the road!
Why gutters for your home? Check out this blog article – https://www.northtwinbuilders.com/why-gutters-are-essential