Preventive medicine is the best medicine, and that goes for your gutters, too! Think of your gutters like the arteries for your home. You need them clean and clear so that you don’t end up with blockages and other major problems. Most importantly, liquids need to be able to flow through them. You need to stop any clogs that form before they harden.
It is absolutely normal for your gutters to fill up throughout the year with leaves, sticks, birds’ nests, and other debris. Leaves blow in — not just from your own trees, but from those of your neighbors. And it won’t just be leaves – small branches, acorns, and other detritus can end up in your gutters. Over time, exposure to sun and rainwater turns those leaves and debris into paste, keeping them from blowing away and coating your gutters.
Clean Your Gutters BEFORE They Become an Issue
The key is treating your home’s clogged gutters before they cause problems. A clogged gutter can cause rainwater and snowmelt to run over the edges of your gutters and to run down along your siding, which can ruin your siding. Blocked gutters can also cause water to drain down along your foundation rather than away from it, which opens you up to a host of issues from water in your basement to damaged landscaping. Clogged gutters can also contribute to ice dams in the winter, which can force water to back up under your roof surface, doing significant damage during freezing weather. You do not want mildew, rot, erosion and other problems from misdirected water. You need your gutters to protect your home’s structure and safeguard against the elements – that’s what they’re there for; make sure they’re doing their job.
When Is the Best Time to Clean My Gutters?
It gets harder to clear those gutters as it gets colder outside, but at the same time, you want to get the most result for your effort. That pasty, wet muck will freeze in the winter, and then it gets stuck to itself — and stuck to your gutters and the exterior walls of your home. As the winter snowpack builds up, the collected moisture gets worse and worse. Huge icicles form, more leaves get caught, and the clogs intensify.
Generally speaking, late fall – after most leaves and acorns have fallen but before consistently freezing weather – is the most opportune time to clean your gutters. Many homes also benefit from a cleaning in the spring: after the winter freezes have passed is a perfect time to remove any debris that has collected as a result of winter storms. That being said, it’s far better to have your gutters cleaned ANYTIME than it is to feel like you have to wait until the perfect time to have it done. Having your gutters cleared out once or twice per year puts you on track for minimal frustration and headaches from gutter problems. The best time to have your gutters cleaned out is in the fall – the second-best time is anytime.
Gutter cleaning is a reasonable DIY task for most homeowners who don’t dislike ladders or heights. But if you’re here in Cincinnati, Harper Siding & Roofing can clean out your gutters quickly, efficiently, and affordably, if you have things you’d rather do with your time then climb up on a ladder and clear out mucky gutters. And we can do it in the fall, before any gutter problems intensify, or any time of year that suits your schedule. We’re a full-service roof repair, replacement, and gutter cleaning company – we handle whatever your home’s exterior needs to be in top shape. We have the experience and expertise to handle any gutter issues quickly and capably. And we have the reputation behind us to give you peace of mind that we will do a great job and stand behind our work. You will thank yourself when your gutters run freely and the water from your roof goes off the roof and away from your home – exactly as it’s supposed to.