When Should You Clean Your Gutters?
When should you clean your gutters isn’t a question with one answer because it depends on several factors. Most gutter professionals will say to clean your gutters twice a year, spring and fall. However, that might not be the best answer for you.
When Should You Clean Your Gutters?
When you live under the trees
If you live surrounded by hardwood trees like me, you may need to clean your gutters more often than twice a year. My home is at the bottom of a wooded hill. My yard, flower beds, and gutters fill with leaves beginning in early fall and continuing into winter. Some trees lose their leaves early, while others, such as oak, hold onto their leaves longer. Because of this, my gutters often needed to be cleaned more than once in fall and winter. Full disclosure, a couple of years ago, I had gutter toppers installed. Now if could buy a flower bed topper to keep the layers of leaves out of my flower beds.
When your gutters aren’t working
Even if you clean your gutters twice a year, that might not be enough. It’s not only leaves that fill gutters but also twigs, roof tile sand, and other debris can clog your gutters. When that happens, your gutters no longer operate correctly. One of the signs is gutter waterfalls. When water spills over the gutter’s edge before reaching the downspout, that’s a problem. Gutter waterfalls can lead to rotting of your soffit and fascia and, left alone, can even cause foundation problems.
If your gutters have become a garden
Plants and more can grow in gutters. The minute you see a seedling sprouting in your gutters, that’s a problem. It’s not only the seedling but what it’s growing in. Leaves break down, turning into a moss-like substance that’s excellent topsoil for airborne seeds. Moss can form, and when moss reaches your roofing tiles, they retain water that freezes, thaws, and damages the tiles. Moss, lichens, and algae thrive in damp, dark places like your gutters. Did I mention what roots can do to your roof?
The purpose of gutters is simple. Remove rain, so it doesn’t damage your roof. When gutters don’t operate as they should, it leads to roof damage. If your gutters are leaking, sagging, or spilling over, you can count on the water getting behind your gutters and under your roof, which can lead to extensive damage to your home.
Let’s talk about ladders
Ladders are the most dangerous tool in your home, according to the CDC CDC.gov (Center for Disease Control). “Each year in the U.S., more than 500,000 people are treated and about 300 people die from ladder-related injuries. The estimated annual cost of ladder injuries in the U.S. is $24 billion, including work loss, medical, legal, liability, and pain and suffering expenses.”
So, what’s the answer? If, like me, you shouldn’t be up on your roof on a ladder and you don’t have gutter toppers, then the best answer is to hire someone to clean your gutters. Let us know if we can help.
How Can We Help You?
Berger Hargis has a company philosophy of providing personal excellence for all our services. Our growth and success have been due entirely to our commitment to honest, excellent customer service. The company has been built on the referral business we have received due to this philosophy.
If we can answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
About the Author
Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management.
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