The fall season in New England is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world to see the splendor or foliage and trees change color. As pretty as these leaves may be to snap a picture with for Instagram, for homeowners they are a giant pesky burden.
Fall leaf clean-up can easily become a weekend of arduous yard work and clearing leaves from your home’s gutters is necessary to keep the system working as it should.
Gutter systems work to trap and move rain and other water (like melting snow) away from your roof and dwelling. When they are clogged with leaf and sticks debris they cannot do that function efficiently and you will end up with leaks and other damage.
Here are some important tips for cleaning and maintaining your home’s gutters this fall.
Clean Your Gutters
The first and most important steps to keep your home’s gutter system working is to clean it. Once all the leaves have fallen either carefully go up on a ladder or hire a professional to come out and blow out, suction or spray out whatever has built up in the system over the winter and summer months. Doing this at least annually can keep your system in tact for years to come.
Inspect for Defects
Whenever there are elements of the gutters that are not working properly, you can tell by how they appear upon visual inspection. For example, a sagging gutter means something has likely broken off or is missing. You might also see noticeable cracks and holes. Get those patched up and repaired quickly before they lead to bigger problems.
Check for Water Problems
Even if you don’t see any noticeable damage to your gutters and you have already had them cleaned, there could still be a problem occurring. The best way to check this is to physically inspect around your home after a rainstorm to see if there is anywhere around the house where water is pooling. If the system is not efficiently carrying away the water as it should it will pool near the areas that have become disconnected or need repair.
