Fall is upon us, meaning beautifully colored leaves will soon fly about. Marveling at the beauty that is fall and the color-changing leaves that come with it, we also have to remember to protect and keep our gutters clean.
Throughout the year, but fall especially, leaves and debris tend to get caught up in your gutter systems. When these leaves start piling up and clogging your gutters, they cause them to be unproductive, defeating the ingenious invention of gutters in the first place.
That’s why keeping your gutters clean and free from unwanted debris is critical.
Clean Gutters Help Preserve Your Roof
One reason why fall gutter cleaning is necessary is that your gutters help preserve your roof, which is one of the most expensive parts of your home to replace. Gutters maintain your roof by redirecting rainwater and debris build-up that naturally occurs.
As the rainwater trickles down off of your roof, it is collected in the gutters and then flows away from the home, protecting the roof from damage. In the fall, excess leaves and debris from the shedding trees are also forced onto the roof, making it even more crucial to keep the gutters clean during this time of the year.
Gutters Preserve the Exterior of Your Home
Another reason to clean your gutters every fall is that the gutters help to maintain the quality of your exterior walls. Whether your home is made of shingles, stucco, or any other building material, wear and tear from natural elements takes a toll on them.
Your gutters are designed to transport rainwater away from your home completely, including your exterior walls. If your gutters aren’t properly cleaned, the rainwater and debris will continue to spill over and onto your exterior wall, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
When you clean your gutters appropriately, all leaves, debris, and other natural elements that clog your gutters are cleared away and make room for the rainwater to be moved across the gutters, and through the downspout, away from your home as intended.
Keeps Animals and Insects From Nesting Near Your Home
When your gutters are full of leaves and other nest-making goodies, naturally, it draws nesting animals to your home. They love to use debris such as that for making homes, so when they see your gutters perfectly stocked with nesting materials, of course, they’re going to invade and take up residence in your gutters.
Birds making nests in your gutters will not only further clog up your gutters and prevent them from working correctly, but they also can be quite a nuisance. You’ll have more feces and other bird dander to clean off your home, and they can be noisy in the mornings.
Another hazard that presents an issue when gutters aren’t cleaned regularly is insect infestations. Mosquitos, in particular, love cool, damp places to breed and make nests. If your gutters have leaves and other debris lying about, chances are there will also be a fair amount of stagnant water. The stagnant water will attract mosquitos, which we all know are never good to have around.
Prevents a Cracking Foundation
The foundation of your home is a crucial part of your home structure, which is why safeguarding it is super important. If gutters aren’t clean and water is consistently exposed to the foundation, you’re bound to start seeing cracks and crevices form within it. Of course, you know a cracking foundation can not be a good sign, so preventing that from happening is ideal.
The clean gutters steer water away from the house and help keep the ground around the home dry. The soil directly beneath the foundation should be kept as dry and stable as possible. The only way to ensure this happens is by utilizing your gutters. A clogged gutter is never doing its job, so keep them clean and let them work their magic.
How to Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters, although incredibly important, as discussed earlier, can be a daunting task. You’ll need a few tools to help you get started, such as:
- Ladder
- Gloves
- Buckets
- Trowel
- Water sprayer or hose
- Protective eyewear
You’ll also need to be comfortable with heights and working on a ladder since the top gutters are level with the roof. It’s essential to have someone with you if you fall or need assistance emptying the bucket.
Also, be sure to look out for insects, birds, and even snakes! If your gutters haven’t been cleaned out in a while, you never know what could be living in there, and it could be something dangerous.
Save Time and Hassle and Let the Professionals Clean Your Gutters
It’s clear why cleaning your gutters in the fall is incredibly important, but as you can see, it’s no easy task. If you are uncomfortable with heights and climbing ladders or afraid of bugs, mice, and other pests that could be living there, you may not want to handle this job by yourself.
You can easily save yourself the hassle and time by hiring a professional to clean your gutters for you. Advantage Construction offers a hassle-free, professional gutter cleaning service that will take care of the dirty work of fall gutter cleaning.
Contact us today for a free quote and consultation with professionals who know how to get the job done. We want to work with you to get your home properly cleaned and ready for whatever the weather has to bring this season.
