Do not underestimate the importance of gutter maintenance year-round. Many assume fall and spring are the only times for gutter maintenance. However, each season brings new weather, each impacting your gutters in different ways. We compiled a list of tasks to keep your gutters in tiptop shape throughout the year.
Fall
While each season is important for gutter maintenance, fall is the most critical. Falling leaves and debris creates a greater need for more frequent gutter cleaning. Increased debris and rain can cause damage to your gutters in addition to creating an inviting space for pests to live. So, what gutter maintenance is needed in the fall?
- Routine Cleanings: Sticks, leaves, and other fallen debris tend to accumulate in the fall, increasing the odds of clogs and blockages within your gutters. Regular gutter cleaning can keep your gutters functional by removing all obstructions that could cause overflowers and water damage.
- Gutter Screens/Guards: Gutter guards are an excellent way to limit the debris entering your gutters. This is particularly helpful if you aren’t keen on cleaning your gutters frequently.
- Winter Preparations: Fall is the perfect time to handle any lingering concerns with your gutter system prior to winter’s arrival. Tackling any maintenance tasks ahead of time can help avoid damage to your gutters from freezing temperatures, ice, and snow.
Winter
Ice dams and snow are the main issues gutters face in the winter. While it may not be the most pleasant, consider these tasks for gutter maintenance in the winter months:
- Ice Dam Prevention:What are ice dams? These occur when snow melts on a warm roof and freezes in the gutters. These ice dams can cause substantial damage to both your roof and gutters. Appropriate attic insulation works to minimize ice dams, and gutter maintenance ensures removal of the ice and snow to further prevent these conditions.
- Downspout Maintenance:Downspouts should be free from any obstructions to ensure proper drainage of melting snow.
- Snow Load Removal:Why is lots of snow detrimental to your gutters? Snow weighs a lot, especially in mass quantities. This weighs down your gutters and contributes to sagging or collapsing in the worst instances. Removing heavy loads of snow from your gutters can protect them and ensure they can continue function in the coming seasons.
Spring
Spring is another crucial time for gutter maintenance. With flowering trees and accompanying debris, and increased rainfall, your gutters need maintenance to function properly. Here are the tasks to take on for springtime:
- Debris Removal:With the numerous flowering plants, new leaves, and other debris, you’ll be needing gutter maintenance services. This ensures all debris is removed, preventing clogs and ensuring proper drainage for all the rain to come.
- Downspout Maintenance: Spring is an excellent time to ensure your downspouts are connected properly and angled to direct water away from your home. When downspouts aren’t connected properly or angled correctly, those showers can cause water to pool around your home’s foundation and can cause substantial damage if left unmanaged.
- Gutter Inspection:Regardless of winter gutter maintenance, the freezing and thawing of gutters cause strain. Spring is a great time to check for cracks, damage, or loose connections, and make any essential repairs.
Summer
Summer brings lower volumes of debris, but still requires routine gutter maintenance to ensure your gutters are ready for challenges from higher temperatures and storms. Here are several maintenance tasks to address in the summer months:
- Storm Preparation:Hurricane season brings strong winds and heavy rain, both of which can overwhelm a gutter system. Conducting routine gutter maintenance can prepare your gutters for those stormy conditions with minimal damage.
- Heat Endurance:Summer gets toasty, and your gutters suffer from the heat too. Extreme heat causes your gutters to expand and contract, weaking system components. During your routine maintenance, check for areas in need of repair or additional reinforcement to endure the summer temperatures.
- Addressing Pests:Summer often brings an increase of pest activity such as insects, rodents, and birds taking shelter in your gutter system. Seeking out professional gutter maintenance services can ensure that these spots are quickly identified and that you don’t have to handle the unpleasant task of removing those pests.
Looking for a Gutter Maintenance Service?
Each season brings numerous maintenance tasks for gutters, creating a lot of work to stay on top of it all. Capital Exteriors and Renovations offers gutter maintenance services, including routine cleaning, inspection, and installation of gutters and gutter guards. Contact us today for your free quote and get your gutters in top shape for the upcoming seasons.