By now, the trees have dropped all of their leaves: Have you cleared out your gutters yet? To avoid problems with your gutters, roof, or basement — clean out your gutters now! Do this before temperatures drop and water freezes for the winter.
Why you need clean gutters for the winter:
While keeping gutters clear is always crucial to preventing flooding or damage to your roof, walls, basement, landscaping and foundation, clean gutters become even more important in winter. That’s because clogged gutters prevent water from passing properly through the gutters. In warm weather, that can cause gutters to overflow. In cold weather, however, that water can freeze in the gutters and cause even more damage, including:
- Icicles.
When clogged gutters overflow in freezing temperatures, major icicles can result. Icicles might seem innocent enough, or even picturesque, but they can serve as a hazard. They may cause gutters to sag away from the house due to the added weight of the ice. - Ice dams.
The most serious problem that results from clogged gutters in the winter is ice dams. Ice dams form on the edges of your roof when the snow on your rooftop melts because of the warm air in your attic. As the water hits the colder edges of the roofline, and can’t enter the gutters because of clogging, the water freezes and can form massive ice formations that can damage your roof or your home structure. - Gutter and roof damage.
Anytime you invite water and ice to build up around your gutters and your roofline, you invite the opportunity for damage and mold. Clogged gutters can force water back up under your roof, where it can damage the roof structure or the wooden supports of your home, or cause mold or mildew to develop. The weight of the ice on your gutters and roof can cause buckling, cracking and other damage.
Keep your gutters flowing this winter with gutter guards:
There is one simple solution to preventing the buildup of ice in your gutters and on your rooftop due to clogged gutters: Gutter guards! Gutter guards prevent debris from entering your gutter and causing clogs that stop water from flowing freely through your gutters. At The Gutterman of TN, we install SafeGuard Gutter Guards. With SafeGuard Gutter Guards, the unique steel mesh that tops the gutters prevents any clog-forming debris from finding its way into your gutters so your gutters keep flowing all year long.
To keep your gutters and your home safe from damage due to ice dams and icicles, make sure you clean all of the leaves and debris out of your gutters before temperatures drop below freezing and the snow begins to fall. If you want to make this fall the last fall you have to clean out your gutters to prevent wintertime damage, call The Gutterman of TN to ask about installing SafeGuard Gutter Guards on your new or existing gutters.