If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned and inspected for a while, now is the time to do so before cold and unforgiving weather hits. Ice and snow can wreak havoc on your gutter system, with ice potentially damaging your fascia and melting snow causing gutter clogs. Rather than risk damage to your home, take these steps to prepare your gutters for winter.
Get Your Gutters Cleaned
Ensure your gutters are clean and free of debris before your home is hit with snow and ice. Snow and ice can exacerbate already clogged gutters, which can cause extensive damage to your home. If your gutters are full of debris, melting snow and ice will have no place to go, either overflowing or causing a heavy strain on your gutter system. These can cause your gutter brackets to break or detach from your home, rendering your gutter system useless and causing damage to your home’s infrastructure. Plus, if snow and ice runoff are bypassing your damaged gutter system, the water will hit the side of your home and home’s foundation, which can cause structural damage.
Have Your Gutter System Checked
Even if your gutters are clean, there could still be underlying issues with your gutter system that could be worsened by the winter elements. Hire a professional to check that your system is fully intact and attached to your home – there should be no gaps between your fascia and the gutter. The exterior of your home should also be examined to see if there is any existing water or structural damage that could be a sign of an underperforming gutter system. Finally, downspouts and diverters should also be inspected for quality assurance and clogs.
Add Gutter Guards
For many homes, the fall and winter months are when they experience the most debris, leaves, and twigs gathering in their gutters. To prevent this accumulation, consider installing gutter guards. While there are variations of gutter guards, they all work to prevent large pieces of debris from accumulating in your gutters while still allowing water to freely pass through and exit the system. With the installation of gutter guards, you won’t need to clean your gutters as frequently, and you can feel confident your gutters can handle the extra weight of ice and snow since you know they are clean.
Add Extensions to Your Spouts
If you live in an area heavily hit by snow, you may want to consider adding extensions to your downspouts. When snow melts, it results in a huge amount of water. Downspout extensions will ensure when the snow in your gutters and on your roof melts, it is carried far enough away from your home. This will prevent the water from hitting the side of your home and foundation, which can cause the aforementioned water and structural damage.
There is no better team to winterize your gutters than New Vision Exteriors. Not only will we clean your gutters, but we will also make sure they’re in tip-top shape to handle whatever the winter months throw at them. Give us a call for a consultation today!