As fall starts to come to a close, leaves that have turned beautiful shades of burgundy, amber and gold now cover the ground. And, more notably, have ended up in our gutters. While removing the gunk that builds up over time isn’t the most glamourous task, it’s a vital one that needs to be done at least twice a year. Rolling Thunder Window Cleaning and Power Washing owner Rick Winrod talks to us about why making sure we clean our gutters regularly is important.
Keep A Look Out
If you start to notice water in your basement or leaks in the ceiling of your house, poorly maintained gutters may be to blame. “Gutter maintenance is important because the purpose of gutters is to divert stormwater away from the foundation of your house,” says Winrod. “And if your gutters aren’t maintained, they won’t function properly.” Poorly maintained gutters can lead to cracks in the foundation of the house, which could cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Stay On Top Of Maintenance
Homeowners should gauge how often to clean their gutters by looking at the number of trees in their yard. “If you have four or more trees surrounding your house, you should consider having your gutters cleaned twice a year,” says Winrod. “Once in the fall, after all the leaves come down, and once in the spring.”
Rethink Replacement Gutters. Winrod says that the two major reasons to replace your gutters are if a tree branch falls on the gutters and damages them or if they’re so old that they can’t be repaired. Apart from those scenarios, Winrod says that focusing on cleaning the outside of the gutters to get rid of dirt and grime can make a world of difference. “Just a simple cleaning outside of the gutters and maybe sealing up some cracks [works],” he says. “Just a few hundred dollars worth of effort will save the cost of gutter replacement.”
Consider Hiring a Pro
Due to the complicated nature of the job, Winrod says homeowners should look for professionals that carry liability insurance and workers’ comp insurance. Additionally, homeowners may want to check out the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List when they are considering different companies. “The cost of gutter cleaning is nominal,” he says. “The typical homeowner has much better ways to spend their time than a Sunday afternoon cleaning gutters. It’s dirty work, and it’s dangerous work."
