Handyman in Regina: Top Tips for Preventing Clogged Gutters

Your home’s gutter system provides the necessary protection against water and moisture damage. The gutter system acts as a guide and service road for water to escape your roof and travel down and away from your foundation.

Gutter cleaning and maintenance is an essential aspect of ensuring the proper function of the system. Neglected gutters become clogged and deformed. When damaged, the system may allow water to back up under the roofing or drain near the home’s foundation. Discover tips for maintaining your system and preventing damage.

Using Gutter Cleaning and Other Tips To Prevent Clogs

A well-kept gutter system protects your home against water damage, flooding, leaks, and other moisture issues. However, to remain an effective guard against damage, the system needs upkeep and maintenance. Typically, a homeowner can focus on cleaning the gutter a couple of times per year, but sometimes the system demands more. Discover the five ways to ensure your gutters are up to the task of protecting your property.

1. Inspect and Clean Spouts and Gutters

The main job or responsibility of any homeowner regarding the gutter system is routine cleaning. At a minimum, homeowners should clean their gutter twice annually — once in the spring and once in the fall. That said, gutter cleaning is more involved than simply scraping or spraying out the troughs; homeowners also need to focus on the downspouts.

Downspouts can collect leaves and other debris throughout the year, so it is necessary to clean them out along with the gutters. You can use a garden hose to ensure adequate water flow and a drain snake to clear out any stuck debris.

2. Install Gutter Guards or Screens

Homeowners may want to hire a handyman in Regina to install gutter guards, which can significantly reduce the amount of annual maintenance necessary for gutter systems. A gutter guard is a screen, mesh cover, or even foam wedge that sits over or inside the gutter and prevents large debris from clogging the trough.

While gutter guards are nice and prevent significant maintenance, homeowners must still commit to checking the gutters annually. Even if larger debris, such as leaves and sticks, don’t make it into the gutter, dirt still can. Mud in the gutter can prevent the free flow of water and cause problems.

3. Secure Fasteners

When performing gutter cleaning, check the fasteners that secure the system to the house. Broken or loose fasteners can destabilize the troughs and cause water to sit in the gutter. Also, enough broken fasteners can cause breaks in the system.

Breaks and destabilization can result in leaks, which drain onto the siding of the home and along its foundation. Too much water near the foundation can cause soil displacement and foundation cracks, eventually leading to moisture issues in the basement.

If you find broken fasteners, contact a professional handyman to replace them. The professional can assess the system to ensure it functions correctly.

4. Check Gutter Pitch

Home maintenance services in Regina not only fix broken fasteners, they also check the gutter pitch. Gutters should pitch or angle away from the house and toward downspouts. The pitch doesn’t need to be severe, but it does need to exist. Without an adequate pitch, water can sit in the gutter and potentially cause moisture issues, including mould and water damage.

5. Repair Damage

Gutters must be whole to work properly. If you find cracks, holes, or other damage while cleaning the system, call a professional to make repairs. The damage leads to leaks which cause more damage.

Hiring Professional Gutter Cleaning Services

Homeowners often handle gutter cleaning on their own. However, with all the things they need to be mindful of during the cleaning process, like clogs, broken fasteners, cracks, incorrect pitch, and so on, it is beneficial to hire a professional for annual cleanings. Contact Handyman Connection to schedule gutter system maintenance and repair.