Crisp temperatures, beautiful trees, and falling leaves: Fall is officially here in Nashville! For all of its beauty and fun fall activities, fall does have one downside: It’s time to clean your gutters. Nashville’s neighborhoods are full of beautiful, mature trees, which, unfortunately, lead to rapidly clogged gutters. Here are our tips for keeping your gutters flowing and protecting your home this fall.
Don’t wait to clean your gutters.
Homeowners nearly universally hate to clean their gutters. It can be tempting to put off the chore for as long as possible, but don’t wait to clean your gutters! The clogs in your gutters can cause water to pour over the sides or back up into your roofline, causing wood rot, mold and foundation damage, among other problems.
Clean your gutters regularly.
The general rule for gutter cleaning is to clean your gutters twice a year: Once in the spring and once in the fall. If you have a lot of trees on your lot, that might not be good enough. You might need to clean your gutters as much as twice a month during the peak fall season. Allowing leaves to pile up in your gutters, in addition to causing the problems above, can add stress and weight on your gutters that can cause them to pull away from your home.
Don’t forget the downspouts.
The downspouts are an often overlooked part of the gutter system. Make sure you check your downspouts to be sure that they are free of debris and clogs when cleaning your gutters. If your downspouts aren’t working, your entire gutter system will fail to safely whisk water away from your home.
Run water through your gutters.
The best way to finish off your gutter cleaning is by running water through your gutter system to get out any small dirt or debris that might be lingering there. After you have manually cleared away the large debris, place a hose in your gutter and flush the system with water.
Inspect your gutters.
Fall is the ideal time to check your gutters to make sure they are ready for the rain and snow ahead. As you clean your gutters, be on the lookout for cracks, gaps or sags. This is another place where running water through your gutters is helpful; as you rinse out your gutters, check the system for drips, leaks or clogs that you might have otherwise overlooked.
Consider gutter guards.
If you’d rather be spared the chore of cleaning your gutters, consider installing gutter guards! Gutter guards prevent debris from building up in your gutters, which can reduce all sorts of home problems, from landscape damage to moisture in your basement. When you install gutter guards, you won’t have to worry about cleaning your gutters again this fall or for many falls to come!
If you notice that your gutters are in disrepair during your fall cleanings — or if you’ve decided to be done with gutter cleaning for good — call The Gutterman of TN to schedule an appointment today! We’re Nashville’s resource for high-quality gutters and gutter guards that can keep your home safe from water damage.