2 Tips For Keeping Your Rain Gutters In Good Condition
One of the most important features of your home is your rain gutters, mostly because the rain gutters will divert water away from your foundation, which can help prevent foundation damage and erosion. Listed below are two tips that can help you keep your rain gutters in good condition.
Check The Fasteners
The most important thing that you can do to keep your rain gutters in good shape is to inspect the fasteners that attach the gutters to your home. These fasteners can consist of nails, screws, or even straps that are attached to your roof. The problem with these fasteners is that they can begin pulling away from your home, especially if you live in an area that gets frequent storms that can throw a lot of debris into your gutters.
When these fasteners begin pulling away, your gutters can actually become a danger to both your family and your home as the gutters can fall away and tear pieces of your roof or siding off or simply fall on someone walking underneath them. If your fasteners are pulling away from the wall or roof, consider using new gutter screws because they will be much stronger than most other types of fasteners. In addition, the gutter screws will save you time because you will not need to bother removing the old fasteners, you can simply leave them in place and supplement them with gutter screws from your local home improvement store.
Properly Clean Your Gutters
Another simple way to keep your rain gutters in good condition is to make sure that you clean them properly. This typically means cleaning out your gutters at least twice a year to clear away debris that can put strain on the gutters and fasteners, causing them to collapse, break, or pull away from your home.
Clean out your gutters more frequently if you live in an area with a lot of trees that are taller than your home and in close proximity to your roof as those trees will contribute a lot of debris to your gutters throughout the year, particularly during storms.
When cleaning your gutters, avoid the temptation to simply use a hose or pressure washer at first. While hoses and pressure washers can clean out the main portion of your gutters quickly, all of that debris will overwhelm your downspout and clog or damage it. Instead, use a trowel or your hands to remove the larger debris first, then use a hose to wash out the dirt and smaller leaves and twigs that are left.
Contact a gutter cleaning or installation professional like Northwest Rain Gutter today in order to discuss how you can better maintain your rain gutters. Checking the fasteners regularly and cleaning the gutters regularly can help keep your gutters and home in good shape.