Clogged gutters are one of the leading causes of exterior damage to homes. Clogged gutters back up and damage the fascia and soffit boards. Sometimes the water can even back up into the home and cause drywall damage.
It is important to drain the water at least four feet away from the foundation of the home. Clogged gutters that overflow and allow the water to soak into the ground next to the foundation can cause structural damage to the home.
A solution that has become popular in the last several years is gutter protection. Some type of screen or metal cap on top of the gutter to prevent it from being clogged up with debris. Our opinion is, they don’t work well in our environment. We have seen the water overshoot the gutters during heavy downpours and during the winter icicles and ice dams will form on top of the gutter covers.
The best solution for sure is to keep your gutters clean. If there are no trees around your home, you should check the gutter to make sure they are clean and not clogged. An easy way to do this is walk around the outside of your house during a rainstorm and check that the water is flowing out of the downspouts and not overflowing any of the gutters. If you have trees around your home, you should clean the gutters once to twice a year. If you have pine trees next to your home the gutters should be cleaned twice a year.
Checking the downspouts to make sure they are not clogged is extremely important. A clogged downspout will back the water up into the gutter and cause it to overflow. The best way to check the downspouts is to put water in the gutters and make sure that the water is draining properly.
If a downspout is clogged, use a hose and water to clear the downspout. If the downspout goes underground into an underground drain, it is very important to not force debris into the underground section of the pipe. It is extremely difficult to clean underground drains. If a downspout leading to an underground drain is clogged the downspout should be disconnected from the connection leading underground before water is put in the downspout to clear it. Sometimes it’s necessary to take apart several sections of the downspout in order to clear the clog out.
The most important thing to remember when cleaning gutters and downspouts is ladder safety. In 2020 there were 171 deaths from people falling off ladders and over 22,000 injuries related to ladder falls. Always choose a level area to place the ladder. Always bring a bungee and secure the ladder to the gutter with the bungee so the ladder does not slip off. The ladder should always extend 3 feet above the edge of the roof.
Excel Roofing is an expert at climbing on and off roofs. Our gutter cleaning services will ensure that both the gutters and downspouts are clean and flowing properly. The best thing a homeowner can do is have Excel Roofing come out and clean the gutters and not have to worry about dealing with the ladders and other dangers of cleaning gutters. Call us at 303. 761. 6400 to schedule your gutter cleaning.
References:
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/gutters/21014902/tackle-gutter-gunk-with-these-cleaning-tips
