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If you are a homeowner then you may have noticed your gutters or maybe you are just wondering how to maintain them. Well, for gutters to do their job by bringing water away from your foundation, they have to be able to do that freely without debris. Gutters are a lot more important for a home than many people think, so yes, you should clean your gutters out annually so that they can work properly. Gutters take water away from your foundation so that there is no risk of water damage to your foundation, but if the gutter is full of debris, then the water has nowhere to go and it will overflow. There are many different reasons why you should get your gutters cleaned regularly. Learn more at middletownpowerwashers.com.
Is Gutter Cleaning Really Necessary?
Gutter cleaning is extremely necessary, yet homeowners tend to forget about this home maintenance area. There are many reasons why you should keep your gutters cleaned and there are many problems that can arise if the gutters aren’t kept cleaned. It’s important to clean your gutters regularly because they need to be free from debris to work properly. It’s normal for gutters to fill up with sticks, leaves, moss, and many other things that naturally fall or come with rainwater. To maintain your gutters and make sure that they are working properly, you must clean them regularly. At the very least they should be cleaned annually, but most experts recommend twice a year. You should be checking them regularly though so you can clean them out when needed.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Gutters?
Your rain gutters are there to mainly bring water away from your foundation and roof so that it doesn’t accumulate and cause problems. Water is something that can cause many different issues from decaying foundations to causing mold issues. If your gutters are full then the rainwater has nowhere to go, which causes it to overflow. The water will have to find other places to go to and unfortunately that is usually your foundation and roof. The water accumulating on your roof and around your foundation can cause the foundation to weaken and cause cracks, holes, or other damages. Plus, the water could cause mold and mildew which can cause many more problems as mold and mildew can spread and infect other areas of your home. Gutters are also a great place for pests to camp out and make their home, so cleaning gutters will make them not want to move in there and cause problems as well.
Overall, if you don’t clean your gutters then the water can damage anything surrounding them which can cause roofing issues, mold, and foundation problems. Foundation problems caused by water can cost up to $10,000, so it’s best to just keep up with cleaning your gutter so you can ensure that they are working properly and removing the water.
How Often Should You Get Your Gutter Cleaned?
Cleaning out your gutters is another home maintenance project that should be done regularly. A lot of homeowners forget about the gutters until something worse happens and problems arise from a backed-up gutter. Most experts say that you should clean your gutter at least once a year, if not twice a year. However, in some climates that get lots of storms or rain, they may want to clean their gutters out even more than that.
Ultimately, you can check your gutters yourself to see if they need to be cleaned. Then you can make a judgment call on when to clean and clear them out. This will help to avoid any issues with debris blocking your gutters and preventing them from working properly. Which as we stated above, can cause many more problems within your foundation. Also, if there was a big storm in your area then it’s best to at least check your gutters after the storm, because storms bring lots of rainwater, winds, and that means more debris can end up in your gutter.
Keeping trees trimmed and other debris from around your home can prevent the gutters from filling up so quickly. Homeowners can’t necessarily prevent debris from coming when a big storm is happening, but if debris is being cleaned up around your home then there is less of a chance of them ending up in the gutter.
What Is The Best Time Of Year To Clean Gutters?
The best time of year to clean your gutters in spring and fall time. If you are looking to clean your gutters twice a year then you should do it once in the fall time and then once in the springtime. Cleaning your gutters out in early spring will prepare them for rain and debris that come in the springtime. In early fall, the leaves and debris from the summertime have dried and it makes them much easier to clean out of the gutters.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line when it comes to gutter cleaning is that you should do it at least once a year, but experts recommend it closer to twice a year. Spring and fall time are the best times to clean out your gutters. If you live in an area with lots of trees, especially pine trees, then you may want to clean your gutters every 3 to 4 months instead. Gutter cleaning is a home maintenance project that a lot of homeowners forget about until it causes a problem.
Cleaning out your gutters can help prevent your gutters from backing up and not being able to release the water. The main purpose of a gutter is to take rainwater away from your home to prevent damages to your foundation. Water can accumulate and cause foundation problems, roof problems, and even mold and mildew. Ultimately it is best to just get your gutters cleaned at least twice a year, if not more, to ensure that your foundation doesn’t get any water damage because foundation problems are much more costly and complex than a gutter cleaning. If you need gutter cleaning done then you can contact a professional company to come to clean them out. This will ensure the best work is done to avoid any issues with rainwater and your home’s foundation.
