4 Tips To Make Sure Your Gutters Survive The Winter
Do you know if your gutters are ready to survive the winter weather? It can be surprising sometimes at how much damage just a little bit of snow, ice, and wind can do to your home, and without the proper winter maintenance, your gutters can clog, crack, or even sag from their hinges. Your gutters are an important part of your home, working to direct water away from your roof, siding, and foundation, but if you let this system fall into disrepair, it could start to affect the overall integrity of your entire home.
Even the best quality gutters that have been installed properly will strain under heavy loads of snow and the brutal ice that comes along with the winter months. To help ensure that you have the information you need to keep your gutter system functioning properly, we have included a short list of tips you can follow to help make sure your home’s gutters are protected from damage over the course of the winter.
Clean Your Gutter
When leaves, twigs, or other debris being to build up in your gutters during the winter, rainwater and melting snow can overflow and freeze on the ground forming dangerous areas all around your home. This ice around the home and on pathways can create a slipping hazard, and as anyone who has ever taken a tumble on an iced over sidewalk can tell you, it is not a pleasant experience. Even if you have gutter screens, it is important to make sure that you are regularly performing the following three steps when cleaning your gutters:
- Remove Debris – Removing leaves and pine needled by hand is time-consuming, but worth it.
- Check The Slope – The fasteners attaching your gutter to the home can loosen over time, changing the slope
of your gutters, leading to pooling and overflowing. - Ensure Good Drainage – Check to make sure your downspouts are directing water at least 5 feet away from the home’s foundation
Trim Your Trees
Even though fall is over, leaves can continue to fall into your gutters. You can reduce the amount of debris that falls into your gutters by trimming back the tree branches near your roof. In addition, if ice or snow starts to weigh down a tree branch, it can snap and cause damage to your roof and gutters.
Try A Test Run
To ensure that your gutters are functioning properly, run some water through them with a garden hose to check for any leaks or clogs. If you find any problems, your best bet is to contact a Saratoga Springs gutter repair specialist to come out and help.
Install Gutter Heat Tape
During the winter, water can freeze in your gutters, creating ice dams that will cause snow and ice to build up on your roof. This can result in serious water damage, so it is best to hire a professional to come out and remove it by installing heat tape or an electric heating cable for your gutters. These cable produce a lot of heat so it is essential that they be installed correctly or they could wind up causing a great deal of damage.
