When you have saturated soil or the volume of water is much larger than the surface it’s trying to infiltrate, runoff occurs. As this water runs down, it can gather untreated pollutants like sediment and pesticides and drain down into our natural waterways.
Take advantage of the following tips to manage stormwater runoff and reduce nearby pollutants.
Even when you try to do the right thing sometimes, you miss the mark. With gutter maintenance, homeowners sometimes make the following mistakes.
Gutters are an essential part of protecting your home from leaks, foundation erosion and yard damage, but they’re not indestructible. Depending on how old your home is, and the type of gutters you have, you will have to replace your gutters every once in a while. How frequently you need to replace them and when you need to replace them are dependent on a few factors, but if your gutters are experiencing any of the following, it’s their time to be replaced.
Don’t wait until your rain gutters leak and sag from clogged debris. Preventive measures can save you a significant amount of money and avoid the headache of dealing with damage. Clogged gutters are a major reason for roof leaks and are entirely avoidable—discover 7 effective methods to prevent leaves and other debris from clogging your gutters.
Properly functioning gutters and downspouts require regular maintenance to keep them clear of leaves and debris. You can either attempt this task by climbing a ladder or save time and effort by enlisting the help of a professional gutter cleaning company. You should clean your gutters at least twice yearly, although the frequency may increase if your property is surrounded by trees or frequently impacted by storms.
Tips for Efficiently Cleaning Your Gutters:
Leaf Blower or Hose
When clearing debris, opt for a leaf blower, but ensure your safety by donning protective goggles, a dust mask, and sturdy work gloves.
Gutter Trowel
To properly clean your gutters, use a garden trowel or gutter scoop to remove debris by hand. Begin at the low end of the gutter near the drain outlet for optimal results. Collect the debris in a bucket for easy disposal once you finish. It is recommended to clean gutters when leaves are slightly damp, not soggy. Additionally, use a leaf blower to clear any debris or leaves from the roof to prevent them from ending up in the gutters during the next rainfall.
Gutter Hose or Wand
Get your gutters clean swiftly and easily with these spray methods. First, attach a cleaning wand to a hose and spray the leaves out from one end to the other. This method can be done safely from the ground with eye protection being a must. If that doesn’t work, climb a ladder to see where the blockages are and flush the gutters with the hose. Try these spray methods to keep your gutters flowing clean.
One of the best ways to keep leaves out of gutters is with gutter guards. Gutter guards are designed to prevent leaves, twigs, and general debris from getting inside your gutters while still allowing water to flow freely. There are eight types of gutter guards you should be familiar with to keep your gutters clean.
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Ready to be the envy of the neighborhood? Or just looking to spruce up your home exterior? There’s many ways to re-energize the outside of your home whether you’re ready to put your house up for sale or simply freshen things up. Here’s seven ways you can improve your home’s curb appeal in a single afternoon.
What many people don’t know as they invest in a gutter system is they should be thinking about how large of a gutter they need. Although five-inch K-style gutters and six-inch half-round gutters are common with many homes, some properties need additional gutter support to prevent pooling and overflowing water.
Here in Amarillo and the rest of the Panhandle, we go through long periods without rain. Most people don’t think about their gutters during droughts and focus on their landscaping and water conservation. But during droughts gutters systems can run into issues you need to be aware of.
In designing a new home or improving the condition of an older home you want to look at everything that adds to the overall aesthetic of the exterior. A thoughtfully chosen gutter color contributes to adding curb appeal while something deeply contrasting creates a bit of an eyesore.
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Are you ready to sell your home or just looking to freshen up the exterior a bit? Painting your rain gutters is one of the many ways you can spruce up the outside of a home. Re-painting is possible with a variety of gutter types including aluminum gutters. If you’re eager to paint, you’ll need to first thoroughly clean the gutters.
One of the most potentially damaging places around your home where a bird can set up a nest is in your gutters. The pressure of a large enough blockage can cause your gutter to detach from the rest of your home. Preventing a bird nest in your home’s gutters is an easy way to keep your home’s exterior looking great. With our simple solutions, you can keep your gutters clean, functional and bird free. Below we are going to walk you through proven methods to keep birds away, from DIY fixes to professional-grade deterrents to help you say goodbye to the mess and damage caused by nesting birds.