Why is it important to clean your gutters regularly?
Whether you own a home or a commercial building, it’s important to take care of your gutters and ensure that they’re cleaned regularly. Neglecting your gutters for extended periods of time will only cause buildup and increase the challenge of cleaning them. Not to mention, your gutters will not work properly when the time comes that you actually need them to—and then it’s just too late! Metal gutters can last up to 20 years with proper care and installation, whereas cheaper alternatives such as plastic or vinyl will need to be replaced sooner.
What are the signs your gutters need to be replaced?
Not cleaning your gutters will also shorten the lifecycle of your current gutter and drainage system. You may start noticing the following problems much sooner:
- Cracks
- Signs of animal life/creepy critters
- Water leaks and dripping
- Mold
- Overflow or higher levels of pooled water
- Sagging
Many problems caused by neglect are preventable. Below are some tips that will help you extend the life of your drainage system and save you money in the long term!
How often should you be cleaning your gutters?
Gutters for both commercial buildings and residential homes should be cleaned about twice a year. This frequency can be higher if you live in wetter climates or under pine trees that tend to drop dead needles. The recommendation for cleaning your gutters is every fall and spring, although you should be checking on them about every three months to start noticing the aforementioned signs and prepare your gutters before the first major monsoon of summer.
Tip! Tie this quarterly chore to another household chore so that you always remember to stay on top of your drainage system’s maintenance needs. For example, associate checking your gutters with swapping out your air filters or changing out smoke detector batteries.
How should you clean gutters safely and effectively?
When thinking about getting on a tall ladder and inserting your hands in dirty places, safety should always come first! In fact, the simplest way to clean your gutters is just gloving up and getting right in there. Some other ideas to possibly try include:
- Leaf blowers
- Shoveling (visit your local hardware store for a cheap one)
- Renting an extended vacuum
Keep your roof in great shape throughout the year
While you’re up there cleaning out your gutters, be on the lookout for any missing shingles, broken tiles, or other roof issues. If you notice anything that looks out of place, be sure to give our team a call for a free roofing checkup.