Maintaining your gutters is a minor task compared to other home maintenance and improvement tasks. After all, they’re responsible for the proper drainage of rainwater. However, not paying for your gutters can lead to significant roof problems. In today’s article, we’ll examine why maintaining your gutters is important and how it contributes to the overall durability of your roofing system.
Gutters play a very important role in diverting rainwater away from your home’s roof and foundation, preventing a variety of potential problems. When gutters become clogged with leaves, twigs, or debris, they cannot perform their function. The resulting water overflow can damage the roof and siding, all problems that can be easily and inexpensively avoided.
Gutter maintenance is a critical aspect of home maintenance, although it is often overlooked and not given the importance it really deserves. Today, we invite you to follow these tips to keep your gutters and your home in top condition.
Cleaning Tips for Gutters:
Always keep your safety in mind: Hiring a professional will always be better than risking your safety. No one thinks they are in danger, yet they are, so safety should always be your primary concern. That is why hiring professionals specialized in handling work at height will always be your main recommendation.
– Make sure you have the right tools: Have a sturdy ladder with insurance and the necessary height. If your house is more than one story, please call a professional roofer. Avoid bending or damaging the gutter by leaning the ladder directly over it.
Make sure the ladder is placed at the correct angle. An easy way to determine if your ladder is at the proper angle is to stand at the bottom of the ladder and extend your arms. You have the correct angle if the ladder is an arm’s length away, meaning your fingertips can touch the rails.
Besides the ladder, other tools necessary for this type of work are
.- Plastic shovels or scoops
Hose: Must be a garden hose and resistant to water pressure.
.- Thick and resistant gloves: it is essential to protect your hands when cleaning gutters, which can contain a lot of dirt, debris, bacteria, animal excrement, and elements that can cause cuts on the skin.
.- The use of safety glasses is also something that we recommend at EDIL for carrying out this type of preventive maintenance.
.- Appropriate footwear: to get the best grip when going up and down stairs.
.- Work on a day with favorable weather conditions: If the day has gusty winds or the roof is wet, it is better to wait another day to clean the gutters. Working with ladders in these conditions is not advisable, which increases the risk of slipping or falling.
.- Have a bucket or container available to collect any debris, leaves, branches, or other dirt in the gutter. Remove any remaining debris by spraying the hose through the gutters and downspouts.
In addition to these recommendations, we recommend investing in gutter guards to help reduce cleaning and maintenance days and extend the effectiveness of gutter operation, especially in areas where ice and snow are a constant presence. Gutter guards can be placed over existing gutters to help prevent clogging.
These precautions will result in a more efficient roof and a waterproofing system that is cared for, maintained, and performs optimally for longer.
