Many homeowners know to clean their gutters in the fall, but Spring gutter maintenance is a great way to prevent damage to your gutters and your home.
Isn’t Gutter Cleaning a Fall Chore?
When most people think of gutter cleaning and maintenance, they think of a chore only necessary in the Fall. After all, Fall is when all of the leaves are falling from the trees and landing on our roof tops and in our gutters. However, a proper inspection and cleaning of your gutter system in the Spring can set you and your home up for a stress-free Spring and Summer.
Why Gutter Preparation Is Important
In Northeast Maryland, we know just how rainy the Spring season can be and just how devastating that rain water can be for the unprepared. During the Spring months of March, April, and May, Northeast Maryland averages anywhere from 3.3” to 5.5” of rain. This may not sound like much, but for a clogged or damaged gutter system, it can be detrimental to your home – both exterior and interior. But, really, what’s the worst that could happen?
Prevent Damage to Your Roof System and Everything It Protects
Your roof and gutter system are your home’s first line of defense against the rainy season. Rain falls onto your roof and runs down into your gutter system. If gutters and downspouts are clean an in good working order, the water then runs through your gutters system and away from you home. However, if your gutters and downspouts are clogged or in a state of disrepair, that rain water will find somewhere else to go and more often than not, it finds its way inside of your house. A clog severe enough can cause water to back up under the shingles of your roof and penetrate to the interior building materials of your home (think wood framing, drywall, etc). This means damage to your roofing system and everything beneath it.
Prevent Damage to Your Home’s Foundation and All That Sits Upon It
Another potential entry point for rain water that cannot properly flow through your gutter system is at the foundation of your home. If rain water cannot flow properly through your gutter system and away from your home, but does not back up underneath of your roof shingles, that does not mean you are in the clear. Instead of back up, the rain water will cascade over the top of your gutters and then pool around the foundation of your home, potentially eroding away at the soil surrounding your foundation. Similarly, if your downspouts are not clear and positioned to properly lead rain water away from your home, the rain water will, again, pool at the foundation of your home. Excessive water sitting at your foundation can cause your foundation walls to crack, to bow, and leak. Anyone who has had to deal with foundation issues knows just how costly they can be to resolve. Not to mention the damage that can occur if the foundation damage is severe enough to allow water to leak through. A large enough crack in the foundation can lead to flooding in the basement or crawl space of your home. Any possessions in the path of the incoming water could be damaged or destroyed. However, even a small foundation crack can allow water to slowly seep through causing damp walls, damp floors, mold or mildew growth, and cause the wooden framing to rot. This moisture can attract pests like termites and even rodents.
Prevent Damage to Your Home’s Exterior Paint
If rain water is cannot flow freely through your gutters rather than system, it can also run behind your gutters and down the side of your home. If this issue is not addressed quickly, it can lead to cracking, bubbling and peeling paint on the exterior of your home. Granted, this issue is less problematic and more aesthetic, but your home is a huge investment and you should be able to take pride in its appearance.
Deters Unwanted Pests
Two of the biggest summer bummers in Northeast Maryland are the humidity and the mosquitos. While there isn’t much we can do about the humid summer climate, maintaining your gutters is a good way to help keep mosquitoes at bay. Gutters clogged with debris don’t allow proper flow and if water is not flowing, it is sitting. Gutters clogged with debris allow water to flow over the gutters and sit at your foundation. In both instances, you’re stuck with stagnant water which is a breeding ground and a glaring hotel VACANCY sign for mosquitos. We want to be able to enjoy the warming weather and fresh air without swatting away pesky mosquitos. Eliminating the standing water that attracts them includes maintaining your gutters system.
Gutter Prep Is Important, So What Should You Do?
Gutter preparation should definitely be on your Spring to-do list, but what that entails depends on your comfort level with heights and working on a ladder. If working on a ladder or roof is totally out of your comfort zone, you are not alone! You can always contact a professional gutter company to inspect and assess your gutters to make sure that they are in good working order, and in the case of Mid Atlantic Gutters and Roofing, provide you with a free estimate for gutter replacement. Other companies offer very reasonable rates to clean your existing gutters and Google is a great place to find them. However, if you are comfortable with heights and working on a ladder, you can easily and inexpensively assess and prep your gutters yourself.
How To Prepare Your Gutters This Spring
1. Clear Gutter Troughs of All Leaves and Debris. First and foremost, you will have to clear your gutter troughs of all leaves and debris that may have built up over the winter months. You can use a leaf blower, a garden hose, or just your (gloved) hands for this. Bring a trash bag with you to hold all removed debris or just toss it to the ground to collect later. Once you’ve cleared your gutter troughs, you can move onto the next part of your gutter system: downspouts.
2. Clear downspouts of all leaves and debris. Your next step is to ensure that your downspouts are clear of any clogs, leaves and debris. Usually, a garden hose will be enough to do the trick. However, in the case of a particularly large or difficult clog, a handheld plumbing snake can be used to break up and remove the leaves and debris clogging the downspout.
3. Rinse Everything Clean. Once all of the leaves and debris are cleared, you’ll want to use a garden hose to rinse the gutter troughs and the downspouts. This will remove any smaller obstructions or dirt build up, but will also allow you to test the flow of water through your gutter system and will make obvious any damage the gutter system may have.
4. Inspect Gutter System for Damage. With water running through your gutter system, it will be easy to spot any cracks in the gutter troughs because there will be water dripping from any cracked or damaged areas. You can also make sure that your gutters are pitched correctly. If the water is flowing slowly through the gutter troughs, it could be because they are not pitched, or tilted, at enough of an angle to get the water flowing. This could be caused by damaged or faulty gutter hangers (these are what attach the gutters to your home). Be sure to check the gutter hangers to make sure that they are not damaged or loose.
5. Trim Any Overhanging Tree Branches. If you have larger trees on your property, especially trees with limbs overhanging your roof and gutters, you may want to consider contacting a tree trimming contractor or trimming them back yourself. We recommend ensuring that the tree branches are 6-10 feet from your roof and gutters.
6. Install Gutter Guards/Leaf Free Gutter Systems. If you got this far prepping your gutters yourself and find yourself saying ‘Never again!’, you might want to think about installing some type of gutter guard/leaf free system to your gutters. There are many different types of leaf free systems for your gutters, but they are not created equal. Mid Atlantic Gutters and Roofing is a licensed K Guard dealer and specialize in fabricating and installing K Guard leaf free gutter systems. K Guard gutter systems boast gutter troughs with the capacity of 6” gutters, dual drains, an aluminum gutter hood that keeps leaves/debris out and can be lifted up to access the gutter trough, oversized 3×4 downspouts, and a lifetime warranty that guarantees the gutters will never clog, sag, or pull away from your home. They require very little maintenance that can usually be done from the ground level and do not require a ladder. K Guard gutter systems cost less than the competing products and include everything mentioned above rather than only offering an add on to your existing gutters and downspouts.
Whether you choose to handle it yourself or delegate it to a licensed professional, springtime gutter preparation is an important step in protecting your home.