After another seemingly endless winter, spring has finally sprung. The weather is noticeably warmer, the sun is noticeably brighter, and life is beginning to spring forth from the ground. You know what that means, right? It’s time for Spring Cleaning. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, dust off your feather duster, and prepare your home for summer.
The Link between Spring Cleaning and Your Gutters
When preparing your home for summer, don’t forget to prepare your entire home for summer. This means giving the exterior of your house a little TLC, starting with your gutters.
How to Clean Your Gutters
When it comes to your gutters, most homeowners live by a simple motto: out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, this type of thinking can lead to some serious issues, such as water damage, but we will touch on that later. For now, we are simply concerned with how to clean your gutters.
- Gather Supplies: You will need a ladder, a hose, a plastic bag or two, a plumber’s auger, and a partner. Any time you climb a ladder, you should have someone with you to help stabilize the ladder and ensure your safety.
- Scoop Debris: Climb that ladder and start scooping out all of the twigs, leaves, and muck. Put the debris in your bag and slowly work your way down the entire length of the gutter.
- Rinse and Repeat: Once you have removed all of the big stuff, you can use your hose to give your gutters a thorough rinsing.
- Still Clogged? If you still notice drainage issues, use the plumber’s auger to push or pull the barrier and dislodge the clog.
The Link between Your Gutters and Water Damage
Your shingles, with the help of gravity, are designed to protect your home from the elements and move water safely to your gutters. Your gutters, meanwhile, are designed to then transport this water from your roof to the side of your home. It’s a simple system, but it works…if you properly maintain your roof and gutters.
If your gutters become clogged with twigs and leaves, it can slow or even halt the drainage of rainwater. When this happens, water can begin to backup and pool, slowly seeping in under your shingles. You see, your shingles are only designed to shield your roof from water running from top to bottom, not water rising up from below. As a result, fascia boards can begin to rot, allowing water to find its way into your attic and, eventually, the rest of your home.
Hello, water damage.
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Hopefully you have found our blog, “The Link between Spring Cleaning, Gutters, and Water Damage,” informative and helpful. Continue to check back weekly for more helpful tips.
