Gutters offer a straightforward way to divert water away from the home. The diversion prevents damage to the siding and erosion to the soil around the perimeter of the house. IT helps to keep water from collecting along the foundation where it could damage the home or lead to interior water damage. Clogged gutters cannot perform effectively and protect against the issues that they were meant to prevent. Blockages could also cause additional concerns on the roof. It is worth the effort for homeowners to make certain their gutters stay free from debris.
Clean by Hand
Manually cleaning the gutters by hand is a simple and useful process that should occur at least once a year. The homeowner can clear away any leaves, pine needles, or other dirt or debris during the cleaning. During the process, rinse any sand or mud accumulation and spray and mold with a bleach and water solution to keep it from spreading.
Protect with Guards
Gutter guards prevent blockages from the material people typically need to clean away by hand. The guards, available from Gutter Services in Tacoma Wa, fit over the gutters and work with any style of gutter or roof. The products reduce the amount of cleaning that the homeowner needs to perform but will not eliminate hand cleaning. The gutters do help to prevent the damage from ice dams and other issues common to unprotected gutters that could occur between maintenance checks.
Check for Damage
One of the most important parts of manual cleaning is the inspection of the gutters for any dents or leaks. Gutter Services in Tacoma Wa should always advise their clients to inspect their gutters annually, as well as after any severe weather to ensure the guards are in place and the gutters did not become damaged. An annual inspection is the best time to seal leaks and call for any replacement or repairs needed. If an inspection does not take place, the homeowner will not know if a fallen branch or heavy wind shifted their guards and made them ineffective.
Homeowners will always have some level of maintenance to perform. Extras like gutter guards will not stop the need for cleaning but are a simple way to reduce the amount of time needed for the task. Find out more about the advantages of these beneficial additions to a gutter system.