Make Your Gutters Last As Long As Possible With These Tips

Make Your Gutters Last As Long As Possible With These Tips

roof guttersYour roof gutters are one of your home’s most prized possessions. They defend your roof against excess rain, protect your home from water damage, and reduce the risk of mold growing on your home’s outer walls.

Because they’re so important to the maintenance and overall well-being of your house, it’s essential that you know what you’re doing to prolong the life of your roof gutters. The following tips will help you ensure that your roof gutters stay alive and well for as long as possible.

Get rid of any debris
Clogged gutters are one of the most common sources of basement flooding in American homes. Cleaning your roof gutters twice a year may be enough for some households, but if it’s been raining more than usual in a given season you may have more debris built up in your gutters than you might think.

One of the ways you can tell that the water isn’t properly moving through your gutter system due to debris is that the water is spilling over the sides of the gutter rather than moving through it. Get a ladder when the weather isn’t stormy and check to see if your gutters are clear. You may have to perform another cleaning aside from your bi-annual leaf removal.

Keep the area above your gutters clear of trees
During a rainstorm, overhanging branches from a neighboring tree can easily break off and hit your gutters. Not only can this result in the clogging of your system due to excess debris, but it can also cause damage that may require gutter repair by a professional gutter service. Trim the tree just enough so that any branches or twigs that may get dislodged during a storm don’t come catapulting into your system.

Finally, the best way to prolong the life of your gutters is to consider the types of gutters there are before choosing which one to install. For instance, copper gutters can last up to 100 years in any climate without any rusting or necessary painting. Routine maintenance can only do so much for your gutters if they’re not designed to withstand wear and tear. So the next time you choose to install your gutters, consult a professional gutter installation service for more information on what kind of gutters may work best for your home.

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