How The Winter Affects Your Gutters

If you're planning to avoid pesky gutter problems during the winter season, you'll need to prepare beforehand. When it comes to your gutters, it's a great idea to ensure that you prepare ahead of time. Whether you plan to carry out preparation efforts on your own or hire a professional company, it must be done. However, if you're thinking about the DIY route, you'll need to look into the following:

* Cleaning your gutters

* Inspecting your gutters for existing holes or damages

* Sealing the leaking end caps 

* Installing gutter covers 

* Trimming any nearby trees

* Adding downspout extensions

* Cleaning the debris and leaves from within your gutters

Before anything is done, you must ensure that you get your gutters cleaned out. During the fall season, your gutters are susceptible to collecting debris and leaves. However, if it's been quite a while since you last cleaned them, then the task may be a bit hectic. However, cleaning the gutters is usually an easy task and can be done in no time at all. 

After the cleaning phase, you'll be ready for anything that winter throws at you. In the case where they weren't cleaned, snow will add extra weight on them causing them to either crack or break. When they break, you run the risk of having them fall to the ground. If your gutters fall, you'll be risking both snow and rain damage. 

Clean Roof And Gutters

After you've thoroughly cleaned your gutters, the following steps become easier as your prepare for the winter season. When your gutters are clean, you'll be able to do just about anything else to properly prepare for winter. 

Inspect Your Gutters For Damages

After cleaning the debris and old leaves from your gutter, you'll need to properly inspect for damages. However, if for some reason your spot any form of damage, there's no need to worry because they can be repaired in no time. During the inspection, you'll need to check the joints to ensure that they are in excellent shape and fitted tightly in place. If needed, you can add hangers on them to increase the sturdiness and stability. 

If your system already has a series of old hangers, you can easily replace them with a couple of new ones. Gutter hangers come in two variants, some are fitted under the shingles and the others are attached to your rafters. When purchasing gutter hangers, it's best to select one that suits your needs. Additionally, it's best to keep in mind that you can easily lift your shingles without breaking or damaging them and you can even add any number of hangers that you desire. 

Gutter Downspout

During your inspection, don't forget to properly inspect the downspout and the gutters to see that they are in great condition. If for some reason you notice that repairs are needed, you can do them yourself or contact a gutter company. As you prepare for winter, don't forget to check on the end caps. 

The end caps in your system usually sprout leaks at some time or the other and if your system is old, then you may have a couple of leaks. However, it should be noted that before you can seal the end caps, you'll need to prepare them. This just simply entails cleaning the ends and ensuring that they're free from rust. 

If you need to clean the endcaps, you can easily give them a good scrubbing to remove any rust particles that may have built up. Cleaning the area will leave you with a very clean surface that is free of dust, rust, and other debris. After drying, you can safely apply a sealer to the area. 

Install A Gutter Cover

If you didn't already know, gutter covers come in very handy. These will reduce the number of leaves and debris that can get into your system. However, it should be noted that there are different types of covers and the type you get depends on your needs. Even if you install covers, you'll still need to clean your gutters from time to time. 

Trim The Trees On Your Property To Better Prepare Your Gutters For Winter

The gutters on your home usually become clogged because of leaves from trees that are close to them. While this is an issue, it's only a part of the problem. Prepping your gutters for winter doesn't need to be a daunting task if you put things in place from before. So, if you have trees nearby, you'll need to keep them trimmed. 

Trees Above Your Roof

If you've got a couple of trees that are above your roof, it's a great idea to ensure that you trim all of them. As the leaves begin to fall, they will find their way into your gutter clogging the entire system. If you're trimming them yourself, the best time to do so is at the end of the summer months. Remember, the branches that are fragile and thin will be the easiest to cut. 

Downspout Extensions Prevent Water Damages To The House Foundations

When you add downspout extensions to your gutter system, they will provide some benefits. They mainly divert the water from within your gutters to a distance away from your home. Without the downspout, the water will splash everywhere creating a mess and causing damages to your foundation. 

If You're Not In Possession Of The Right Tools, You Should Hire A Professional

If you're thinking about repairing your gutters it is essential to check and see if you have the right tools. If for some reason you don't, it's a good idea to hire a professional gutter company. Improvising can become hazardous if you're not careful. So, if you're not confident enough, it's best to hire a professional to take care of these tasks for both single-story and multi-story homes.