You don’t know what type of debris you’ll get with the winter weather. That’s why it’s crucial to check up on your house gutters to ensure they’re working properly. Below are some helpful tips.
Most of the time, you never even think about your house gutters. Why would you, when there are so many other household tasks to deal with? The problem is, your gutters do more than you know. In the winter they’re under attack, so you need to prepare them.
Here’s how you can prepare your house gutters for winter and stop potential problems in their tracks.
Why Take Care Of Your Gutters?
Your gutters have an important job to do in keeping your home and roof safe from the elements. When it rains, water runs down your roof and into the gutters. The gutters carry the water away from your home, where the water can’t do any damage.
Water is a serious danger to your roof. If it gets into the roof, then it will cause mold and wood rot, damaging the entire structure. Left long enough, it will even necessitate a full roof replacement. That’s the last thing you want, so ensure that you’re taking good care of your house gutters.
1. Clear Your Gutters
The first thing you must do is clear your gutters. From the ground you can’t see that they’re filling up with debris, especially in the winter. Winds blow leaves onto the roof, and they slide down into the guttering. When they block them, water can’t get out and ends up overflowing back onto the roof. That means you’re going to see water in the roof, even leading to leaks throughout the home.
This is so easy to prevent, though. All you need to do is get up on a ladder, take a trash bag with you, and scoop out the debris that’s settled in them. When you’ve done that, the water can easily flow through and get away from the roof.
2. Trim And Remove Trees
Where is that debris coming from? The trees around your home are the main culprit, as they drop their leaves in the winter. If they’re close enough to the house, they can easily drop leaves onto the roof. You can stop this happening by trimming branches that hang too close to your roof. This will stop leaves dropping in the gutter and causing problems.
If you feel a tree is too close to your house, you can even have it removed. Talk to a tree removal technician and see what needs to be done. Remember, it’s not just the leaves. If a branch were to fall on your roof during a storm, it’s going to cause even more damage and repair bills for you.
3. Install Gutter Guards
Now that you’ve cleaned your gutters and removed offending branches, you need to protect them. The best way to prevent build up is to install gutter guards. These sit on or in your gutters, and stop debris from getting into the gutters. However, they don’t stop water so they’ll still be able to flow freely.
There are several different types of gutter guards on offer, so you can pick the one that suits you best. Mesh guards are a mesh that you place on top of the gutter, so the debris can’t get in but water easily gets through it. A brush guard is a long brush that sits in the gutter, catching the debris so it doesn’t sit and pile up in the gutter.
Remember, these guards are great but they aren’t foolproof. You’ll still need to get up there and inspect them from time to time, to ensure that they’re doing their job.
4. Add Heating Elements
Another issue you want to avoid is ice dams. These happen when snow on your roof melts, makes its way to the guttering, and then encounters freezing temperatures again. Because of this, the water will then freeze in the gutters, blocking them. This allows more water to collect on your roof and freeze, getting into the roof and causing issues.
One good way of stopping this from happening is to install heating elements to your gutters. When the water runs to the gutters, it will be warm so it won’t be able to freeze. This keeps the gutters flowing and stops them from freezing up.
5. Improve Your Attic Insulation
Why does snow melt on your roof in the first place? It’s thanks to the poor insulation in your attic. In the winter, you’re heating your home to keep it warm. When the heat rises, the insulation is meant to stop it escaping via the roof. When the insulation isn’t sufficient, though, you’ll see that the heat will rise through, melting snow in the process.
The way to stop this is to improve your attic insulation. Many homes don’t have enough insulation, which leads to ice dams. You’ll also need to improve the venting in your roof. This allows hot air, especially from the bathroom, to escape safely.
6. Reinforce Your House Gutters
Even the best gutters are no match for heavy snowfall. After a snowstorm, it’s not uncommon to see gutters broken as they couldn’t take the added weight of the snow. You can stop this from happening by reinforcing the brackets that hold your gutters up.
Gutter brackets are easy to pick up, and will keep your gutters safe in two ways. Firstly, they will ensure that the gutters can take the weight of snow that falls on them. Secondly, they’ll stop any current structural damage, so you won’t need to replace the entire gutter.
7. Add An Ice And Water Membrane
This step will have to wait until you need to replace your roof, but it’s a worthwhile investment. This membrane is designed to sit under the top roof layer, and keep water out. It’s a great way to protect your roof, so ensure you invest in one when the time is right.
Conclusion
These seven tips will help you keep your house gutters in top condition this winter. There will be no blockages, no ice dams, and certainly no water in your roof now. Take care of your roof this winter and prevent those repair bills.
