Gutter Maintenance: A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way

As the fall weather sets in, so does one of the most dreaded chores of a homeowner: cleaning out the gutters.  Gutters are one of the most important and often most overlooked features of your home. When the gutters are working properly, they effectively drain water away from your home. 

Over time, leaves and other debris can get caught up in your gutters, slowing or blocking the drainage process. This allows water to back up, causing seepage into the walls, roof rot and even the buildup of mold. This organic material will break down into a sludge that will corrode the gutters themselves.

Even if your gutters are free of debris, it’s important to check for other signs that they are not functioning properly. Look for sagging, warping, leaking or cracked gutters. Sagging can occur when gutter supports are spaced too far apart to handle the weight load. Warping will occur over the years as the metal is stressed by the weather exposure.

It’s important to make sure that the water is being drained away from your house properly. Poorly functioning gutters can erode landscaping, cause basement flooding and problems with the foundation concrete. Keep the areas around downspouts clear and check the elbow joints for improper or sloppy sealing. Also look for popped or missing screws as this allows water to leak out.

As fall turns to winter, any water that is not draining properly will freeze in the gutters causing ice dams. These heavy ice dams can cause water to backup into your home, causing serious water damage. They can also cause the gutters to pull away or even fall completely off your home. 

If it is too difficult to maintain your gutters yourself, hire a trusted professional to do the job. The cost of preserving the integrity of your gutters will be far less than repairing water damage and/or replacing the gutters themselves. If you’ve had a leak inside your walls, be sure to hire a trusted professional to check for mold inside the walls. Over time, mold buildup can cause serious respiratory issues especially in young children and the elderly.

If you would rather spend your time doing something else, hire a professional to clean your gutters and help prevent water damage in your Connecticut home.