Cleaning your gutters can be a quick and painless job. It’s also a job that many people ignore for far too long. It’s not something that needs to be done daily, weekly, or even monthly. In fact, all it takes is approximately 15-30 minutes a couple of times per year. Yet, for some reason, it’s not uncommon for people to ignore the job altogether. You don’t want to make that mistake! Sure, watching the football game, taking a nap or doing practically anything else sounds more fun than cleaning out your gutters. However, if you don’t take the time, you’ll pay dearly in the long run.
Why Do I Need to Clean My Gutters?
The simple answer is that it could end up costing you thousands of dollars if you don’t. Gutters carry rainwater from your roof down the side of your home and away from the foundation – the further away, the better chance you have of avoiding flooding and problems with the foundation. When gutters get filled with leaves and other elements, the water has nowhere to escape. If it backlogs, you could end up with water inside your home, which can create mold.
If you live in an area where it freezes during the winter, it’s even more essential your gutters are cleaned biannually. Icicles may be fun to look at, but they can cost you a lot of money if you’re looking at them on your home. Gutters are designed to prevent icicles from forming on the edge of your roofline, which can cause damage to your shingles. If too much water builds up, you’ll have water splashing through your roof and into your home in no time.
How Often Do I Need to Clean My Gutters?
Not very often. If you clean them out twice per year (late spring or early summer and late fall or early winter) you’re set. Just make sure they’re cleared of leaves and anything else that has found its way into the gutter. It’s also not uncommon for birds or other animals to build nests in or around gutters.
Although it doesn't look like Mother Nature will let us get to this task quite yet, put it on your to-do list for the real spring thaw!