It's Time For Gutter Maintenance

It’s already the last week of August and soon we’ll be seeing the sure-fire signs of fall. Every homeowner’s favorite job, leaf maintenance, is officially right around the corner.

Starting soon and for the next six or eight weeks, leaves, branches, and other debris will begin falling onto your roof and down into your gutters, building up over time. As winter approaches, this buildup can contribute to the formation of ice dams, a heavy mass of ice that settles on the edge of your roof where your gutters are installed.

The main job of a gutter is to create a pathway for water to move away from your house and through a downspout to deposit in a safe place away from your home’s foundation. This system is vital because it ensures that water can flow freely and not cause leaks in your roof, attic, and walls. If your gutters are blocked up, the water has nowhere to go and has no choice but to flow over, creeping up into your roof shingles and down through your siding. This kind of damage is both costly to repair and entirely preventable.

I always recommend giving your gutters a good clean now and once again in late October or early November before the snow comes. I get lots of calls to clean gutters and install gutter guards starting in August and this year is no exception. If you’d rather tackle the task yourself, here are a few tips - just be very careful and don’t get on a ladder if you’re not comfortable being on a roof.

Get prepared with your ladder, a lawn bag or bucket, a small hand rake (or scoop), and a hose. Don’t be tempted to spray debris down the downspout with water; it’s likely that branches and leaves will get stuck inside, clogging it up and leaving you with a whole new mess to deal with.  Start at the downspout opening and work your way backward, collecting gunk away from the downspout and disposing it into your bucket. Work in small sections and don’t let your bag get too heavy – it could throw you off balance and land you in the emergency room. 

While you’re making your way around the house, check for any gutter damage, such as sections coming loose. You want to make sure you get those fixed while the weather is good. Once you’ve finished the cleaning, you can give each section a good spray with the hose to check and make sure the water is running through and you don’t have any hidden build-up in those downspouts.

If gutter cleaning is a job you’d rather not take on, hire a contractor to complete the maintenance and then speak to them about putting gutter guards on your home. These wire or mesh overlays are installed on top of the gutter and prevent debris from entering the channel in the first place. They offer a great solution to a messy job and will provide you with peace of mind for years to come. You’ll want to get them installed now before the first signs of autumn to make sure your home is prepared for the onset of fall leaves.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.