How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned? Preparing Your Home For Spring With Five Basic Questions

Most homeowners don’t give their gutters enough thought. Gutters are an essential part of your roofing system, yet most people can’t answer how are gutters made, or they don’t know which are the best gutters for cold climates. Many people don’t know that different gutters suit different climates.

However, most people know after having local gutters installed; they will need to keep them clean. Cleaning gutters is a chore but a very necessary one. Even fast gutters get clogged and can’t do their job. Over time gutters can fill with leaf debris and other organic debris.
This debris can cause clogs in the downspout. A downspout coil carries the water that has filled in the gutter away from your home and your foundation. When the gutter becomes clogged, the water does not reach the downspout. The water is left to pool. The added weight can pull your gutter away from your roof.
You don’t need to become a gutter expert in caring for your gutters but you do need to learn how to clean your gutters and understand how often they should be cleaned. Learn how frequently your gutters need to be cleaned to ensure they remain reliable and keep water moving away from your home.

Spring is right around the corner. With this season comes seemingly endless rain, wind, and storms. Is your home prepared for the onslaught?

If you haven’t checked your gutters in a while, now’s a great time to do so. Gutters are responsible for redirecting water away from your home — without them you’d be dealing with more floods than you know what to do with. Alongside a new downspout you can even consider patching up that leak in your roof for maximum effect. It’s tough work being a homeowner, but it’s worth it in the end. For those that need a refresher…

Which roofing materials are best? How often should gutters be cleaned? Look below at the top five questions homeowners have about their gutters and roofing materials.

How Often Should Gutters be Cleaned?

This is one of the more common questions asked by homeowners today. It’s a lot to keep track of, cleaning and sprucing up your home. It’s recommended by most roofing professionals you clean your gutter at least twice a year, even if you live in a drier environment. For those that regularly deal with rain and wind, three times a year might be more prudent. “How often should gutters be cleaned?” could be the one thing standing between you and a disastrous flood that puts you out of house and pocket.

What Are The Leading Causes Of Floods?

A single flood can put your entire life on hold. The average insurance claim for a flood numbers as high as $3,000 — clogged gutters also happen to be the number one cause of basement water problems. Stubborn leaks and bad storms can also cause you to reach out for professional services. Save yourself the trouble and look instead to a gutter replacement service. A little work now can save you a world of cleaning and filling out paperwork later.

Which Roofing Materials Are Best?

Alongside gutter installation services you should consider taking a look at your roof. Good materials go a long way in keeping you safe and dry. Lower-quality roofs and roofs over 20 years old are more likely to succumb to harsh weather — think snow accumualation, ice, and high winds. Metal roofing, on the other hand, comes with an impressive 30 to 50 year manufacturer warranty. Swapping out your old roof for a new model will reduce the probability of leaks and even improve your energy bill (thanks to retaining temperature more readily).

Should I Patch Up That Leak?

This might seem like an obvious question, but you’d be surprised by how commonly small leaks are overlooked. Every gallon of rain water weighs around eight pounds. A home that has clogged and overflowing gutters can potentially hold thousands of pounds extra, which means strain on your roof and extra hidden leaks. While you can call a professional to patch these up, it helps to get to the root of the issue. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company will give you the peace-of-mind you need to tackle the rest of the year.

Which Gutters Should I Install?

It’s time to look into your gutters, then figure out where you stand concerning your roofing materials. It’s recommended you have one downspout for every 30 to 40 linear feet of gutter. To better increase your gutter system’s capacity, just add more downspouts as needed. The two available gutter shapes you can choose from are the half-round and K-style. Both of these have their benefits, with some preferring the latter for its aesthetic.

Prepare yourself for spring and summer. Reach out to a professional gutter company and ask them how they can make your home better.