Tips to Avoid Water Damage by Having a Proper Gutter Routine

Having a proper gutter routine is essential to the long-term health of your home. Over time, clogged gutters can lead to water damage, including rotted wood and mold growth.

Thankfully, you can minimize the risk of this happening by following a few simple steps. The first step is to get on your ladder and give your gutters a good cleaning. You can do this yourself or hire a professional such as Gutter Cleaning Toledo to help you out. In either case, make sure you use the right tools and wear protective gear.

Before you begin, clean your roof to remove any leaves or twigs that might be falling onto the gutters. This will prevent debris from getting inside and causing a mess when it rains.

Another tip is to check the slope of your gutters. Gutters should have about a quarter-inch of pitch for every 10 feet of gutter length to ensure water flows properly away from the house.

If you notice that your gutters don't have this much slope, consider adding downspout extensions or splash blocks so the water is able to move away from the house. Splash blocks are slightly sloped concrete objects that carry the water away from the house so it doesn't build up around the foundation.

The other option is to replace your gutters altogether. A new gutter system is more expensive, but it will keep the water flowing away from your house and help avoid costly water damage in the future.

Whether you clean your gutters on your own or hire a professional, the key is to make it a routine that you do each year. This way, the gutters will be less clogged and you'll spend less time on the ladder.

Start your cleaning by scooping out as much of the debris as possible with a gloved hand or narrow garden trowel. Then, use a garden hose to wash it out, working from the end of the gutter toward the downspout.

Next, test the downspout to see if it is clogged. If it is, then you will need to dislodge the clog using a hose or plumber's snake. If not, then you may need to replace your downspout.

It's also a good idea to inspect the downspout and leader, which are the tubing that connects the gutter to the downspout. If they are clogged, the water won't be able to move efficiently and will overflow the downspout, which can cause structural damage and mold growth.

A clogged downspout can also prevent the water from reaching the ground. This is particularly important if you have an older home or a steep slope.

Before you begin the cleaning, examine the gutters closely to ensure they are free from cracks, sagging, or any other signs of damage. If you have cracks or sagging, consider hiring a professional to repair the problem.

Alternatively, you can invest in gutter guards to prevent debris from getting into your gutters. These can be very helpful and can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches when it comes to cleaning your gutters.