Winter in Central New York can be pretty brutal and this past winter has been no exception. Even if you did some preventive maintenance in the fall, some TLC may be necessary in order to keep your gutters in prime condition. Winter storms can cause debris such as leaves, pine needles and roofing material to pack down into gutters, potentially causing rainwater overflow, which could result in other preventable damages. Follow these tips to keep your gutters working properly.
- Ladder safety is a priority when cleaning your gutters. Make sure to use a safe and sturdy ladder, one preferably with a small shelf strong enough to hold a bucket and some tools to help you clear debris. For more information on ladder safety please refer to the American Ladder Institute. Remember to make sure to wear protective eyewear.
- Clean off your roof. Clear off any debris that may have collected off the roof first. Otherwise you may find yourself having to clear out your gutters multiple times.
- The most common way to clean a gutter is to use a garden hose with a trigger spray nozzle that could be easily hung up on the edge of the gutter when a free hand is needed. Use a gutter scoop to clear away larger debris and spray water down towards the downspout so that the smaller debris flows down and away from the building foundation.
- Make sure downspouts are clear, if not, clear them out by running water through them at full pressure. If water backs up out of the top, a clog is present which can usually be cleared by tapping on the side of the downspout. If that doesn’t work, the downspout may need to be removed and flushed from the bottom. If the downspout is connected to an underground drain you should disconnect it from the drain to prevent a clog from moving into the drain itself.
- When cleaning gutters in the vicinity of power lines that run from the power pole to the roof of a home just a visual inspection is recommended. When inspecting this area, check to see that the protective wire insulation has not been damaged due to normal wear and tear by the weather and/or nearby trees. If the cable appears to have damage do not attempt to repair it. Call a licensed professional electrical contractor to repair any wire damage.
To prevent debris from accumulating in your gutters make sure to check out our Gutter Guards! We offer two types of gutter guards: Real Gutter Guards and Leaf Protector Gutter Guards which are both great systems to keep debris from clogging up your gutters.
As always if you need any help or have any questions regarding your gutter installation please do not hesitate to give us a call at (315) 368-5593 and we would be glad to help. We serve the Central New York region, including Utica, Rome, New Hartford, Clinton, Whitesboro, Vernon, Oneida, Canastota, Chittenango, Cazenovia and Hamilton areas.