The gutters are a key component of your roof. By redirecting water away from your property, they help prevent leaks and water damage. As a result, taking care of your gutters is an important part of home maintenance. So what’s the best way to go about this task?
For most homeowners in San Diego, CA, the recommended option is to book professional rain gutter cleaning and maintenance. But if you’d prefer to do this on your own or if you’d just like to know how it’s done, continue reading to the end of this article for 5 tried-and-true gutter maintenance hacks. Read on to learn more.
How do you maintain guttering?
Maintaining gutters becomes less of a hassle if you follow these 5 tips:
1. Schedule professional cleaning
Whether you’re dealing with especially heavy rainfall or rodents that have blocked your gutters, DIY cleaning typically won’t cut it. Without proper training and equipment, climbing the roof is too risky to attempt.
That’s why you should leave this task to a qualified roofer. Maintaining guttering is one of the jobs they perform most often, so they know how to do it correctly and safely. Besides skills, these contractors also have several tools to speed up the cleaning process:
- Gutter scoops and rakes
- Debris-grabbing tools with extension poles
- Pressure washers
- Wet/dry vacuums
- Blower attachments
Once they put these tools to work, it’ll only take them about 30-60 minutes to scour your gutters. The result will be a fully functional, blockage-free system. More importantly, you don’t have to risk your well-being for a second.
2. Install gutter helmets or guards
Even a single large object (e.g., a five-inch hailstone) can clog the entire gutter system. A great way to stop these massive items from landing in a gutter is to install helmets or guards. These sit atop your gutters and have tiny holes that allow water to leak away from the house without inviting large debris.
Still, keep in mind that tiny insects and leaves may still accumulate in your gutters. So, don’t forget to ask your roofer to inspect them at least once or twice a year.
3. Check for downspout blockage
Guttering is made up of multiple components, including downspouts. These pipes lead the water in your gutters from your property. If they’re clogged, rainwater has no other way to go but up. The back-up effect can cause your gutters to overflow or even crack if there’s too much debris. Add gutter inspection to your maintenance to-do list to prevent this.
4. Mount downspout extensions
To further alleviate the pressure on your gutters, consider installing downspout extensions. Besides draining water, they also reduce the risk of moisture pooling near your basement or foundation by directing it to a safe distance.
5. Fix incorrect positions
Gutters generally have a slope that lets them move water at an appropriate pace. Hire a professional to make sure yours are in the right position. If the slope is too small, it keeps the gutters from draining water. By contrast, a slope that’s too aggressive causes rainfall to splash against your house when it gets to the bottom.
Where in San Diego, CA, can I book a reliable rain gutter cleaning?
Even if you somehow manage to stay on top of your house without accidents, cleaning your gutters will likely take several hours or even longer. Wouldn’t a safari-like adventure by Collas Creek be a better way to spend your day?
Of course, it is, and 619 Roofing is here to free up your schedule. As as #1 roofing company in San Diego, we have all the tools and experience to maintain every part of your roof, including the gutters. No matter the severity of the blockage, we’ll go above and beyond to remove the clog within minutes.
Best of all, our services are just a phone call away. Dial (619)-331-3906, and we’ll be on our way. Looking for a top-rated San Diego, CA, rain gutter cleaning team? Give us a call!