If you own a home, you've probably heard, time and time again, how important it is to clean out your gutters a few times per year. Scooping debris out of the gutters does allow water to flow freely, which allows the gutters to do a better job of protecting your roof and siding from water damage. But cleaning your gutters is not the only maintenance you need. Here are a few other gutter maintenance tasks that will help keep your gutters and the structures they protect in good shape.
Check for Holes and Cracks
Gutters are sturdy, but over time, water flowing through them does cause some wear and tear on the material. This can cause aluminum and steel gutters to eventually develop some holes. Or, the gutters may begin to separate at a seam, leaving a little gap that water can tumble through. Vinyl gutters do not generally develop corroded holes, but they can become brittle and crack, which has a similar effect.
Every time you clean your gutters, look them over for holes. If you do see any holes, you can buy a gutter patching kit — for metal gutters — at your local hardware store. Follow the instructions to patch the gutter from the inside. This should stop the hole from getting larger.
If you have vinyl gutters and a part has cracked, it's best to have a gutter company replace that section. Once the vinyl is brittle enough to break, it's nearly impossible to repair without just causing more cracks.
Check the Hangers
The other main component you need to check is the hangers that hold the gutters on the house. These hangers can become strained when your gutters are full of debris or water for a long time. Sometimes, they snap. A gutter may stay in place with one or two snapped hangers, but if more hangers snap, it will often fall off the edge of the roof.
If your gutters do have a broken fastener, you can generally remove and replace it using just basic tools. If you can't reach the fastener or do not feel confident replacing it, contact a gutter company.
Gutter maintenance is important to keep your gutters flowing freely and adequately protecting your home. Talk to a gutter company to learn more about these tasks, or to schedule a maintenance appointment so you don't have to do the work yourself.
For more information, contact a local company, like CB Gutter Cleaning.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.