The Importance of Gutter Maintenance

Did you know that during a rainstorm, approximately 1,743 gallons of water weighing nearly 14,000 pounds collects on an average size residential roof? Therefore, it is crucial that your home’s drainage system is in tip-top condition so all that water will quickly and smoothly flow away from your home. Water that sits in clogged gutters and around your house can spell serious trouble.

Clogged gutters: the culprit of roof leaks

The number one reason for roof leaks is from clogged gutters. Therefore, regular gutter maintenance is a necessity in avoiding costly repairs resulting from clogged gutters. For optimal performance, it is recommended that all of your home’s gutters be examined and cleaned twice a year. The best times for the task is during late fall and late spring when most of the leaves and debris have fallen off trees. For help with this task, trust the roofing professionals with Handyman Connection of Lexington. We have the equipment and experience to get the job done thoroughly and efficiently.

When leaves and debris collect in your gutters, water tends to build up. Accumulating water puts undue stress on your gutters, which are not designed to hold weight. In fact, because a gallon of water weighs nearly eight pounds, several gallons can easily lead to deteriorated and sagging gutters that will eventually pull away from your house. Moreover, decaying debris will corrode your gutters and attract mosquitoes and carpenter ants, further adding to your troubles.

A word about gutter guards

You’ve probably heard advertisements about various gutter covers or screens that keep water, debris and leaves from clogging up your gutters. You may be left thinking that these products will take the place of regular gutter maintenance. How do you know if these products really work and which name brand should you trust? Handyman Connection of Lexington has the answer!

While gutter caps and screens may successfully reduce the quantity of leaves, twigs and debris that may end up in your gutters, they cannot keep your gutters 100 percent clean. Fine debris such as seedlings and tree buds can slip through the gutter cover’s small holes. Moreover, dust, pollution soot and small insects will end up in your gutters and, over time, produce a buildup of sludge or gutter muck. If you want to make sure your building’s drainage system will give you optimal performance all year long, we highly advise regularly cleaning your gutters and downspouts, even if you’ve installed these guard products.

Avoid injuries and leave the job to the pros

While we completely understand and respect homeowners who want to do everything they can to maintain their own home, gutter cleaning can be a dangerous task. All it takes is one slip from the height of a ladder, and you could suddenly experience a serious accident. Many homeowners have suffered fractured ribs or head and back injuries from falling off a ladder, even from as little as eight feet off the ground. Additionally, if your roof is very steep or your home has multiple stories, your chances for slipping increases.

Severe rainstorms and harsh winter weather can easily wreak havoc on your home if your gutters and downspouts fail. Let our expert team of home improvement craftsmen help you protect your valuable investment by making sure your gutters and downspouts are strongly secured and working properly.

Whether you need your gutters cleaned or brand-new gutters and downspouts, call Handyman Connection of Lexington for a free, no-obligation project estimate today!