It’s a job no one likes to do, but cleaning out your gutters and preparing them for winter can help keep your home safe from water leaks and ice damage. Clogged gutters can drive water over the sides of your gutters, posing a threat to your home’s foundation and siding. If water can’t exit gutters, it can freeze inside, causing gutters to sag. The weight of sagging gutters can damage your roof, causing leaks.
The Gutterman has compiled steps you should take to winterize your gutters.
- Remove any debris from your gutters. The first step in winterizing your gutters is to climb your ladder, reach inside those gutters and pull out any leaves, debris or other gook that stagnating inside. Even if you have installed screens on your gutters, you still need to manually check and clean your gutters, as leaves and sticks can become stuck on the screens, preventing water from flowing through your gutters.
- Inspect your gutters. While you’re on your ladder removing debris, inspect your gutters for any damage. Holes are a common problem, either from rusted steel gutters or from twigs poking through aluminum or copper gutters. Gutters also will sag over time, causing gaps in the seams between the gutters.
- Patch any holes. If you do find holes in your gutters, it’s easy to create a patch to prevent any leaking or further damage. First, clean the area with a wire brush, and then coat it with roofing cement. Place a piece of metal matching your gutter material over the hole, and coat it with more roofing cement.
- Seal leaking joints. If you notice water leaking around joints due to sagging gutters, remove any debris or water from the area. With a screwdriver or wire brush, remove any old sealant from the joint. Reseal the area with gutter sealant, which you can find at any home improvement store.
Consider a deicing cable. You also can install a deicing cable in a zigzag pattern along your roofline. The electric lines heat the edge of your room to prevent an ice dam from forming. That ensures that melting ice or snow has a clear path to your gutters, so your home’s roofline drains properly. That can save you from dealing with a leaking roof later.
If you find major problems around your gutters, believe your gutters are beyond repair or are ready for a gutter protection system, we can help! The Gutterman can fix any problems around your gutters, or we can install an advanced gutter system that will stay clear of leaves and debris. Just don’t delay addressing your gutter problems; with winter approaching, your gutters need to be in good working order to protect your home from major water damage.