Generally one of the most overlooked home maintenance tasks on your home is your rain gutter system. The primary reason why they are overlooked depends on where you live and the weather patterns there as gutters generally not in use unless it rains. So when it is not raining, gutter cleaning is basically out of sight and out of mind.

Once the rainy season is upon us it does not take long for our gutter system to let us know when we have not properly maintained them as they begin to overflow and or leak.

If you think a few leaves and twigs in your gutter are harmless, think again. Clean gutters are the single most important way to avoid expensive home repairs. Gutters perform one duty, controlling the flow water from your roof and channeling it away from the foundation of your home. A gutter clog during the rainy season can cause some pretty serious problems. Here are just a few:

LEAKING BASEMENTS – Clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water problems. Roof water overflows and accumulates around the foundation. If this happens, basement leaks may be moments away.

CRACKED FOUNDATIONS – Excess water against the foundation wall can weaken the footing and lead to cracks. This is particularly true in the colder months when built-up water at the foundation freezes and causes a condition known as “frost-heave” which can cause severe cracks to foundation walls.

ROTTEN WOOD – Water backing up from clogged gutters will cause moisture damage to the wood fascia around the house. The rotted area will get worse quickly if the leak is not eliminated by cleaning the gutters.

LEAKING ROOFS – In winter, ice-dams can form on top of clogged gutters. Then snow builds up across the top of the gutter and freezes. During the next thaw, water running off the roof is blocked by the frozen snow and backs up into the house. This can lead to major wall and ceiling damage.

SLIPPERY SIDEWALKS – Overflowing gutters can deposit water on walks and driveways where it can freeze and cause a tripping hazard. Avoid this problem by keeping gutter clean and the spouts extended away from any traffic areas.

AGING DRIVEWAYS – Misdirected and clogged gutter spouts often cause driveways and walks to sag and crack. In the Pacific Northwest algae and moss can set up quickly which also leads to damage.

WASHED-OUT LANDSCAPING – Any newly installed plants, grass or trees can be killed by excess water. Overflowing gutters can cause severe erosion and put an early end to young plantings.

WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS – Bugs love moisture. Keeping the soil dry around the foundation perimeter can force bugs to go elsewhere for a tasty snack of dampened  2 x 4.

The problems listed above can create very expensive repair bills that can be avoided if regular gutter maintenance is performed. Most experts agree that you should clean your gutters in the Spring and Late Fall in many parts of the country. This is a good rule of thumb, but depending on the number of trees that surround your home and they type of debris that they shed, it could be anywhere from 3-6 cleanings per year.

Timing of cleanings is critical, for example your trees have shed most of their leaves so you clean your gutters, but the trees next door are still a week or so behind yours, then out of nowhere you get a wind storm and your neighbors leaves are now find there way on to your roof and into your gutters. Frustrating for sure, but now you have to start the process over again.  Our best advice is to wait for all the trees around your home to shed all of their leaves before cleaning them thus eliminating additional cleanings.

If you have trees such as Birch, Pine or Fir that distribute debris all year long then cleaning at regular intervals is critical to maintaining proper maintenance. This can be tricky in the winter as wind storms dictate the amount of debris that falls. You could have your gutters cleaned on Monday and by Thursday an offshore storm can move through the area and it was if you never cleaned the gutters at all. Im sure you have experienced this before. Not only is it frustrating but it can also get quite expensive.

There is an excellent solution to all of this and that is to install gutter covers to handle your debris. We are in the business of educating our customer on how to select the proper products to handle their rainwater and gutter debris problems. This site will provide you with information on how to find the right fit for your home.