5 Ways to Prevent Clogged Gutters
The primary job of your gutters is to guide water off your roof and away from your foundation. When your gutter system is clogged, water will pool and overflow, causing many problems in your home. Pooling water can eat away at foundation and roofing materials, weakening the walls and roof over time. Clogged gutters can also result in broken gutters, ceiling damage, and other issues that can cost a small fortune to correct.
Instead of dealing with the costly and time-consuming aftermath of clogged gutters, a wise homeowner will prevent their gutters from clogging in the first place. Read on to learn about several methods to keep your gutters flowing freely and your house free from unwanted damage.
Regular Gutter Maintenance
Gutter clogs typically start where your gutter system transitions into your downspouts. A mere clump of leaves is all it takes to plug the downspout and cause a clog. When water can’t flow freely down the downspout, water has nowhere to go and will eventually overflow or pool in unwanted areas.
Most residential roofers recommend having a professional gutter cleaner perform an inspection and thorough cleaning twice a year. If you live in an area with tall trees or extreme weather, you may need to inspect your gutters more often. Some homeowners prefer DIY gutter cleaning, which is a viable option. You should still consider residential roofing services every year to ensure you don’t miss any potential issues with your gutter system.
Regular Roof Maintenance
Leaves aren’t the only thing that can cause clogged gutters. Heavy storms and regular rain can also force debris from your roofing material to trickle down into your gutter system. Old or damaged shingles can also fall off the roof and end up in your gutters, causing clogs almost immediately.
Keeping your gutters free from roof debris means performing regular roof maintenance. Homeowners should have a Lafayette roof repair professional inspect their roofs at least once every year. They can care for and repair any minor issues before they become more significant and more expensive problems.
Many residential roofing companies can knock out a gutter inspection and roofing maintenance in a single visit and reduce the amount of time you spend on a ladder cleaning and inspecting things yourself.
Trim Your Trees
One of the most effective ways to keep leaves, twigs, and other debris out of your gutters is to keep your trees properly pruned. If you have branches hovering above your gutter system, leaves, acorns, and other flora are bound to end up in your gutters.
Wind can carry loose vegetation onto your roof even when trees are trimmed back away from the house. Make sure you perform regular tree maintenance to reduce the number of leaves that make it into your gutters.
Install a Gutter Protection System
Regular maintenance on your gutters, roof, and trees will significantly affect how often you experience clogged gutters. You can take things further by installing a leaf and debris protection system. These gutter covers and guards can cover your entire gutter system and help prevent anything outside rain from getting into your gutters.
Roofing professionals in Lafayette use several different types of gutter guards to keep your gutters clog-free:
● Surface-tension guards that match the slope of your roof
● Fine mesh guards reduce the number of seeds, needles, and other small debris that get into your gutters
● Leaf catcher catches debris in the downspout for easy removal
● Gutter screens keep large debris out of your gutters
● All-in-one systems combine the best parts of new gutters and a protection system
While installing a gutter protection system is not a DIY project, it’s well worth the cost. A good leaf screen is an excellent return on investment, as it literally stops debris from its ability to cause gutter clogs.
Upgrade Your Gutters
Even a clean gutter system with guards isn’t immune completely from getting a clog once in a while. It may be tempting to make repairs only when needed, but the continued upkeep costs can become a real headache (and drain your wallet).
It might be time to upgrade your gutters to a premium system. With a high-grade copper, zinc, aluminum, or steel gutter system, you can rest at ease knowing your gutters will always maintain the proper water flow. A premium system can also be equipped with the right gutter protection system for your environment to ensure that clogged gutters are a thing of the past.
An upgraded gutter system involves an investment upfront, but it will save you plenty of time and money.
Prevent and Repair Clogged Gutters with Hibbard Roofing & Construction
Not everyone is comfortable or has the time to deal with unwanted gutter problems. Clogs can form in an instant and cause long-standing damage to your roof and foundation. That’s why proper gutter maintenance is such a critical part of homeownership.
The good news is that you don’t have to deal with clogged gutters on your own. The experienced and professional team at Hibbard Roofing & Construction is for you, whether you need help repairing the damage of a gutter clog or you want to actively prevent future gutter clogs. We’re known throughout the Lafayette area for our quality work, competitive prices, and commitment to service.
Call us today to schedule a gutter or roof inspection, maintenance appointment, or free consultation.