How to Get Your Gutters Ready for the Upcoming Spring Season

Posted March 15, 2019

With all the home maintenance tasks that add up after the winter season, it’s easy to forget about cleaning the gutters. If you are not proactive when it comes to cleaning your gutters, it may lead to roofing, siding and foundation problems down the road. Don’t worry, it’s not too late to get them cleaned before the summer months ahead. Here are some tips to get you started.

Winter Debris Damage

One of the most important tasks for homeowners in the spring is checking gutters for winter debris and damage. A functional gutter system protects your home from water damage by draining water from the roof and transmitting it away from the house. However, water can back up and damage the roof and siding if the gutters and downspouts are clogged. By getting a regular maintenance check from a professional, it will help reduce the chances of you needing to replace or repair your gutters.

An easy DIY way to inspect your gutters is to wait for a rainy day and see if water is emptying from the downspouts. If you do not see water flowing from the bottom of a downspout or water is overflowing from the edges of the gutter, there is debris clogging the gutters or downspouts or both.

Most debris consists of small leaves and twigs that can either be scooped out by hand or removed with a handheld leaf blower. To remove smaller particles and dirt from your gutters, you can easily flush those away by using a garden hose.  For heavier or more compact debris, we suggest investing in a gutter cleaning tool such as a plumber’s snake. They are great for breaking up the hard to reach clogs but most clogged downspouts can be unclogged bu a garden hose.

Gutter Cleaning Pointers

Gutter cleaning may be needed much more frequently than just once a season, especially if you live in an area where there are several surrounding trees. Some trees release strings of pollen, some let off seeds and some with blossoms which then shed those flower petals. Many homeowners may not realize that more debris actually blows into the gutter system than gets washed in with rain. Other common issues to look out for include holes, corrosion, sagging sections, and loose, bent, or missing fasteners. If you find holes, they should immediately be plugged or caulked immediately. To start the process of cleaning your gutters, we recommend getting up on the roof if you can, it allows for more space to move around and makes cleaning go a lot quicker; otherwise, use a ladder or stepladder.

Tools & Supplies for Cleaning Gutters

Some like to use a leaf blower and others, a garden hose. We recommend a durable plastic gutter scoop and bucket. Some homeowners prefer to use a leaf blower and/or a garden hose so it comes down to what you would rather use. The plastic gutter scoop keeps the debris under control instead of blowing it all over the deck, patio, driveway, etc. A bucket is nice, because it’s small and easy to handle. When it is full, empty the bucket into a larger heavy-duty garbage bag placed somewhere on the roof or lawn. Gardening or waterproof gloves are a nice touch if you don’t like getting too dirty, but fair warning: this job is messy.

Planning Accordingly

Cleaning your gutters is a timely project so we suggest starting the process the weekend after everything falls. If you are worried that your gutters are stuffed, get out there before the next rainfall. This will ensure the gutters are flowing properly and not overflowing when the next storm comes through.

Replacing Your Existing Gutters

In some cases, however, gutters may simply be too far gone and need to be replaced. Just ask yourself what you want your gutters to never do again, which for many is having water come into the house from the gutters and having to clean them again and again.

Replacing damaged gutters is important, and spring is a great time to do so. The typical season for rain doesn’t usually hit until early July, so don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to install new gutters on your home. Older homes used outdated materials that can rust and even if your gutters seem to be working properly, it is wise to check and see what type they are and replacing them before they give out.

Spring is a great time to replace damaged siding, and install replacement gutters. Don’t take your g utters for granted until they become damaged, and no longer do what they are supposed to do. Plan to get them replaced or clean in the spring, so that they will protect your home’s foundation during the stormy summer months. It also helps prevent ice dams, which will increase the lifetime of your gutters.

About Us

First founded as a siding company in 1977 in Waunakee, near Madison, WI, our company has evolved into a full-service interior and exterior remodeling team. With years of industry experience in materials selection, design expertise, and professional custom craftsmanship, we’ve established ourselves as the premier remodeling company in South Central Wisconsin.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 608-709-7517 or schedule a free consultation here.