Gutters have one of the most practical functions for the maintenance of your home. They collect the water from the roofs and divert it towards the ground to avoid humidity on the roofs and dripping on the patios and terraces. They also prevent water and debris released from the vegetation due to rain from dirtying the facades.
To fulfill their mission, gutters and downspouts must ensure good drainage. The accumulation of brush, leaves or moss can clog these drainage channels and lead to the overflow of water or the collapse of the structure in heavy rains. So, how often is it advisable to thoroughly clean the gutters?
Keeping downspouts and gutters clean requires at least one or two cleanings a year, depending on the inclement weather typical of each season. The ideal time to do it is at the end of autumn, when all the leaf litter that can prevent the drainage of the installation has already fallen. This way you will avoid the danger that in winter the water will freeze and break the structure. If you have trees on your farm or live in the vicinity of a forest, you can do a complementary cleaning at the end of the summer.
Cleaning the gutters is not an easy task, since it is a job at height that requires the use of a ladder with a secure base. If instead of going to a professional, you decide to take on this work yourself, don’t forget to equip yourself with all the security measures. Non-slip shoes and gloves will help you when climbing on the roof, as well as a person to hold the ladder. Once at the top, remove branches, chips and other embedded dirt from the gutters before starting the deep cleaning. If you are going to use a pressure washer, leave the installation assembled and go back down the ladder with the help of another person before turning it on.
Inadequate or insufficient maintenance of your channels can have serious aesthetic and structural consequences in your home. If the downspouts do not drain correctly, the water will run directly down the façade, with the consequent deterioration of the façade due to the appearance of damp and moss. Rainwater can even seep in and damage the foundation of your home.
Poor channeling also causes water to seep into roofs, causing leaks and cracks. If you let dirt build up in your gutters and downspouts, they can end up giving way or breaking from carrying excess weight.
