One of the biggest challenges homeowners face is the accumulation of leaves. Leaves clog up the gutter system, preventing the proper flow of rainwater.
Gutters are an essential component of your home’s roofing system specifically designed to direct rainwater away from the foundation. Properly functioning gutters help you avoid erosion, protect your landscaping, and prevent a plethora of other problems.
When leaves decompose, they can cause further blockages and damage. It’s essential to stay on top of gutter maintenance and make sure leaves are scarce. Learn the reasons why you need to maintain clean gutters and the tricks to keeping leaves out of the gutters.
Why Is It Important To Keep the Gutters Clear of Leaves?
Prevents Pests
Clogged gutters can create an ideal environment for pests to thrive. Standing water and decaying leaves attract insects such as mosquitoes.
Additionally, the debris buildup can serve as nesting material for birds and rodents. These pests infest the gutters, then find their way into your home. Eradicating leaves from the gutters allows you to better maintain a pest-free home.
Stops Overflow
Rainfall and melted snow that has nowhere to go spill over the gutters. Over time, overflow can cause significant damage in the forms of foundation erosion and basement flooding. Taking precautions to guarantee the gutters and downspouts are clear will establish a stronger home.
Avoids Structural Damage
When objects block gutters, rainwater has nowhere to go and can begin to pool on your roof, leading to roof leaks and potential rot. This pooled water may also seep into your home’s foundation; this weakens the structure and puts the entire house at risk. Eliminating debris from the gutters effectively channels water away to safeguard your home’s structural integrity.
Use a Leaf Blower To Regularly Expel Leaves
Looking for a quick solution to remove loose, dry leaves from gutters? A leaf blower is an effective tool.
Start by setting up a sturdy ladder against the house and putting on a pair of safety goggles. Then, use the leaf blower on the lowest setting to expel the leaves. Begin at one end and work your way toward the other so that the leaves find their way to the ground.
It’s important to perform this task regularly, especially during peak leaf-falling seasons. You can set a schedule for yourself, such as once a week or every other week, to make sure you stay on top of keeping your gutters clear.
Try a Garden Trowel for Scooping Debris
Some spots won’t effortlessly vanish with a little push of air. You’ll need a garden trowel to tackle more stubborn areas. The small tool is perfect for scooping out wet, decomposing leaves and other debris.
Just grab your trowel and carefully scrape out any relentless bits that refuse to budge. Make sure to have a bucket nearby to toss the gunk in.
Make trowel clean-up part of your regular gutter maintenance routine—a homeowner should inspect their gutters for stubborn areas often. This simple tool can save you a lot of hassle and prevent much bigger problems down the line.
Trim Back Trees Seasonally
Instead of caring for leaves after the fact, you can intervene at the source. Trees near or hanging over the roof are the primary causes of leaves falling into gutters. Trimming them back each season will reduce the amount of leaf litter that falls into your gutters.
If you’re not comfortable trimming trees yourself, consider hiring a professional arborist to do the job for you. They will have the necessary tools and expertise to trim trees safely and effectively, ensuring that they don’t pose a threat to your gutters or roof.
Install Downspout Screens
Downspout screens are another great tool to have in your arsenal for keeping leaves out of your gutters. These screens fit onto the openings of your downspouts, which are the vertical pipes that carry water from your gutters down to the ground.
To install a downspout screen, simply place it over the opening of your downspout and secure it with clips or screws. The screen will act as a filter, catching any leaves or debris before they enter the downspout and potentially clog up your gutters.
These screens stop leaves from entering and clogging up your gutters, prevent blockages in your downspouts. This screen can be especially helpful during heavy rainstorms, as a clogged downspout can lead to water overflowing from the gutter and potentially causing damage to your home’s foundation.
Consistently Clean the Gutters
There are two options for when to fully clean your gutters: twice a year or every three months. The necessary timeline depends on the region you live in and its weather conditions.
For example, areas with average or below-average rainfall and consistent temperatures won’t demand tremendous leaf removal. Sticking to a deep cleaning in the fall and spring will suffice.
However, regions like the Pacific Northwest that endure heavy and year-round precipitation require more frequent gutter maintenance. Cleaning every three months in tandem with other tips and tricks to keep leaves out will work wonders for your gutter system.
Install a Gutter Guard System
If you want the ultimate gutter guard protection, try the Gutter Shutter system. It’s an all-in-one gutter guard system that’s guaranteed to never clog or pull away from your home. Crafted with every durability in mind, Gutter Shutter is dependable and uniquely devised to tackle both common and uncommon gutter issues.
This is not your average gutter guard system. It is the largest and strongest on the market, with a vented hood that permits water to flow through and keeps leaves and debris away. As a result, the leaves never enter the gutters, so damage is not a problem.
Choosing Gutter Shutter doesn’t just mean fantastic gutter protection—it also means adding value to your home. Call Pacific Gutter Company today to have a trained technician install the system. With the lifetime guarantee that it will never clog or pull away, you can say goodbye to ever climbing a ladder to clean gutters again!
All in all, gutters are simple to maintain with the right additions and cleaning tips. Try implementing these tricks as well as choosing the Gutter Shutter system for pristine gutters.
