When it comes to keeping your house clean and safe, there are a lot of things you need to do. Homeowners know about basic tasks, like washing the windows and keeping an eye out for leaks coming from your roof. One thing that often gets overlooked is how important it is to keep your gutters clean. Many homeowners don’t realize the important role gutters play in keeping your home protected from water damage. In this blog, we discuss the importance of keeping your gutters clean, and the best way to ensure that they are functioning properly.
Why You Should Clean Your Gutters Regularly?
In our previous blog, we talked about why you should not neglect gutter repair. We covered what happens when you do not repair or replace your gutters as soon as they are damaged. Keeping your gutters clean is a great way to prevent damage and ensure that they continue working properly. Experts recommend that you should clean your gutters at least twice a year. Here are a few reasons why:
Protects Your Roofing System
The roof is your home’s first line of defense, and it protects you and your family from harsh weather conditions. Many people do not realize that gutters are a crucial component of the roofing system, and this is why keeping your gutters clean is so important. When gutters are clogged, they can’t do their job properly by channeling water away from your home. When water can’t pass through the gutters, it can cause serious damage to your roofing system. The longer water stands on your roof, the greater the chances that it can cause damage to your roof. Here are some of the issues that clogged gutters can cause:
- Roof Leaks
- Rotted Roof
- Weakened Roofing Structure
- Interior Damage
Gutter Cleaning Can Help In Improving Your Home’s Aesthetics
Gutter maintenance is one of the most important home improvement tasks, and clean gutters will make your home look better. This is especially true for houses in neighborhoods that are known for their upscale appearance and high property values. When you keep your gutters clean and free of debris, you are doing more than just keeping them from getting clogged—you’re also ensuring that they don’t become a safety hazard or detract from the overall aesthetic value of your home.
Gutter Cleaning Helps Save You Money In The Long Run
Having your gutters cleaned is not only a great way to clean up your home, but it’s also an investment in the future. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair, and it can lead to mold and other problems that could end up costing you thousands down the road.
If you want to save yourself from these headaches and expenses, it is important to get your gutters cleaned by a professional every year.
Helps Your Gutters Last Longer
In addition to protecting your house from major problems, gutter cleaning can extend the life of your gutters! Gutters can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, vinyl, copper, and steel. While some of these materials are more durable, and gutter can be damaged over time or during a severe weather event. Proper gutter cleaning and maintenance, with the help of a professional, can help in increasing the lifespan of your gutter system.
Helps Protect From Pests And Animals
If your gutters get clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, they can’t do their job as well. When this happens, you may have to deal with roof damage, water damage, flooding, and more.
If you have clogged gutters, insects may be able to find their way inside your home through them. This can lead to an infestation that may cause damage that is often costly to repair.
Risks Associated With Gutter Cleaning
You might think that cleaning gutters is not a big deal and you can do it yourself. However, this is not always true. Gutter cleaning is a tough job that has a lot of risks involved if you decide to do this yourself. Let us look at some of them:
Risk Of Falling
Gutters are located just below the roofing system, and they are not reachable without a ladder. The most common risk associated with DIY gutter cleaning is falling and hurting yourself. Each year, there are plenty of cases reported where a homeowner has injured themself while working on a ladder.
If you are going to clean your gutters yourself, make sure that you know how to safely climb ladders.
Lack Of Expertise
Gutter cleaning can be a pretty tricky job to do well. You need to know what kind of equipment you need and how much time it’ll take you. If you use tools that aren’t designed for gutter cleaning, such as a heavy-duty pressure washer, then you could end up making matters worse by damaging your gutters.
It’s also important that you know what not to do—like putting your ladder near electrical lines or trying to clean too many gutters at once.
Chances Of Damaging The Gutters
If you decide to clean your gutters on your own, there is a chance that you can damage the gutters more. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s possible that you’ll use too much force when cleaning out your gutters. This could cause them to break or even collapse if they are not cleaned properly!
Other Factors
Other risks include getting hurt by any sharp objects or chemicals in your gutters—such as rusty nails or moldy leaves. It is important to wear all necessary safety equipment while cleaning your gutters, including gloves, glasses, and more.
How Do Professionals Clean Gutters?
It is always best to contact a professional if you need your gutters cleaned. Doing this on your own can cause damage to your gutters and roof, and possibly even lead to an injury. Below we have given some steps that we follow when we are cleaning a gutter system.
Access To The Right Tools
Before we get started, our team will carefully inspect the gutters and the surrounding areas of your home. Our experts have access to quality tools required for gutter cleaning.
Debris Removal
After climbing on the ladder, our professional will remove all the debris from the gutter by hand. Then we will attach a special vacuum tool to the end of a long pole and use it to suck up any remaining debris from inside the gutter system.
Flushing The Gutters
Next, we will flush the gutters and downspouts with a garden hose or power washer. This will remove all of the loose leaves, dirt, and other debris that has been collected in your gutters over time. A professional gutter contractor can also install gutter guards for additional protection once they have been properly cleaned.
Want Help With Gutter Cleaning Services?
We hope that this blog has thoroughly explained why it is so important to keep your gutters clean. Instead of trying to do this yourself, it is always best to call an experienced contractor for help. Choosing a professional company will ensure your gutters are cleaned properly, and safely.
Miller Roofing and Renovations is the best roofing and exteriors company based in Collierville, TN., and we are known to provide the best gutter services throughout the area. Our team has years of experience, and we have helped hundreds of homeowners repair, replace, and clean their gutters. If you have any questions about our gutter services, or you need help with your gutter system, contact us today at (901) 457-9405.
