Gut it Out

Gutter cleaning is one of the most important autumn chores for homeowners. It may be an easy chore to forget about, but if you want to avoid expensive damage to your home, you won’t forget your gutters. The purpose of your gutters is to get stormwater and snow melt away from your home, specifically your foundation, and thwarting that effort can have serious repercussions for your home.

If your gutters are poorly maintained, water can fall around your foundation and enter your basement or crawl space, which can lead to mold and other water damage. In winter, the water can freeze and actually crack your foundation. Higher up, if water gets behind your gutters, it can rot out your fascia boards, which in turn puts your gutters at risk of collapse and also provides an opening for animals and more water to find its way into your roof.

How often should you clean your gutters?

How often gutters need to be cleaned depends on the climate and surrounding landscape. Here in Michigan where every autumn we have leaves fall, it’s important to clean gutters at least twice a year.

The most important time is in late fall after all or most of the leaves have come down as leaves and twigs cause most clogs in gutters. The other important time to clean your gutters is the spring or early summer as pollen, flower petals and seeds such as maple “helicopters” can build up. Also, most deciduous trees drop debris in the spring, so even those of you living in conifer forests aren’t off the hook. Those who live in heavily wooded areas may find it necessary to clear the gutters three or four times a year.

And it’s not just the horizontal gutters you need to worry about. Always make sure your downspouts are not clogged and that they are carrying water away from the house.

 Cleaning your own gutters can be hazardous if you don’t know how to do it properly. If cleaning your own gutters is not a chore you want to tackle. let us do it for you! We have a fall gutter cleaning special for $199*.  If you never want to have to worry about clean gutters again, we also offer Leaf Shelter gutter protection, which lets the water in, but keeps the debris out.  Let the C&L Ward experts take care of your gutters by cleaning or protecting them for you so you can get out and enjoy football, cidermills and color tours this fall.

Source: Angie’s List

*restrictions apply. Based on 50 square feet. Additional cost may apply for additional square feet.