The most important clean: late fall
If you only clean your gutters once a year, do it in late fall, after most of the leaves have dropped and before the first hard freeze. That clears the season’s debris so meltwater and rain have somewhere to go all winter.
Homes under heavy tree cover, especially maples, oaks and pines, often need a second clean in spring, when seeds, needles and blossoms come down.
How clogged gutters cause ice dams
When gutters are full, water can’t drain. In winter it freezes in place, and the ice builds back up under the bottom rows of shingles. Melting snow then backs up behind that ice dam and can leak into soffits, walls and ceilings. Clear gutters and downspouts are one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk.
What overflowing gutters do to your foundation
Gutters are there to move water away from the house. When they overflow, that water pours straight down beside your foundation, where it can erode landscaping, pool against basement walls and find its way inside. Downspouts that are clogged or disconnected do the same thing.
Warning signs of a clog
- Water spilling over the edge during rain
- Plants or seedlings growing in the gutter
- Sagging sections or gutters pulling away from the fascia
- Stains or peeling paint on fascia and siding below the gutter
- Little or no water coming out of downspouts in a storm
- Icicles forming along the roof edge in winter
Leave the ladder work to an insured crew
Ladder falls are a common cause of home injuries, and wet, debris-filled gutters make the job messy. Assure’s crew removes debris by hand, flushes and tests the downspouts, bags the mess and takes it away, and lets you know about any loose or damaged sections we spot.