Your roof can barely function without a good gutter system. What makes your gutter system work properly and efficiently apart from the quality of the material and installation? It’s how well you, as the homeowner, clean and maintain the important components in the system. If you want to keep your Columbus, Ohio gutters working for a long time, there are a few basic maintenance tips you should know and apply:
How often to Clean
Ideally, you should clean your gutters at least twice a year (autumn gutter cleaning should be a must), more so when there are a lot of trees hanging over your roof. You should also clear it up and inspect it for damage, but make sure to do it on a dry day when the bad weather has passed completely. Give special attention to possible clogs in the downspouts.
Clearing Out
The first thing that you have to do is to go up on your roof (or at least set a ladder on your gutter and stand on the steps) and with plastic bag in your hand, clean up the debris on the channels leading to the downspouts. Remove any decomposed pile of leaves and twigs to make sure nothing clogs up the system. Remove anything that’s clogging up your downspout, as well.
Searching for Leaks
While clearing up (or after), check for any signs that your gutter may be failing and developing leaks. Look out for signs like cracks or holes in the gutter surface itself, or signs of wear in the caulk that binds the seams (if any). Damaged caulk can be chiseled and a fresh one reapplied, but any other damage should be left to reliable contractors like Muth & Company Roofing.
Wash Down
DIYNetwork.com recommends that you should also wash down the gutters, preferably using a power washer:
A pressure washer won’t hurt the gutters provided you’ve secured the gutters with screws or new spikes. The real key is to avoid hitting the gutters at too high an angle or you’ll blow the shingles off with a high-pressure stream of water.
When you see that your gutters are worn down, or if the downspout is clogged beyond any more troubleshooting you can do, call up your gutter repair technicians immediately. Delaying the need for gutter repair in Columbus, Ohio could make the problem worse the next time a storm decides to head over your area.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Tips For Cleaning and Repairing Gutters, DIYNetwork.com)