Those who thought about hiding their Easter eggs in their roof gutters when they saw them this spring know the importance of year round care. If it were not so dangerous because they’re up on the roof, it is actually a great idea for an adult Easter Egg Hunt. The other problem, of course, is what ended up happening to those gutters that went too long without attention.
Obviously, the accumulation of debris that offered such great hiding places stopped the water from moving easily through them. It mostly sat there, so the roof gutter rusted and now drips all over the deck. In addition, the down-spouts froze. That is why the vertical guttering down the sides of the house are now leaking everywhere, and it is why the screws have popped out.
That, in turn, explains why the expansion of those gutters with freezing led to the elbow and horizontal extender bursting free. That is the reason gallons of water drip and rush onto the ground directly next to the home’s foundation when everything melts. In case you are not aware, water leaking into the foundation in this matter is NOT a good thing.
That scenario is no exaggeration. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of keeping gutters in good condition year round. Every season holds its own challenges for gutters and homeowners and the start of every one is the time to check gutters. It could just as easily be the end of each but what is important is that the gutters are clear of dead things, budding branch tips, falling apples, and leaves.
Whether it is ‘the very beginning’ or the ‘end’ of a season, keeping gutters free of debris are a very good place to start. In at least one of those seasons every year, however, the cleaning and inspection should be done by a qualified gutter specialist. This ensures that the gutters are not only clean, but that they are also checked for any structural problems.