Regular Gutter Cleaning And The Hidden Values
Make Gutter Cleaning Part Of Regular Maintenance
Like all maintenance chores around the house, gutter cleaning on a regular basis is extremely important. When you make the decision to purchase a home you are not only taking on the benefits of home ownership, you are also taking on all of the responsibilities that come along with it as well.
After all, your home will only last a lifetime if you provide it with the proper maintenance. If you fail to maintain your home, you will likely find that you are unable to live in that home indefinitely. Much of the regular maintenance which is required in order to keep your house in tip top shape is relatively inexpensive.
Despite this fact, many people often put off hiring out routine jobs such as gutter cleaning because of a misdirected belief that the job will be too expensive. Unfortunately, it’s this common misconception that often costs homeowners more in the long run.
That’s why I wanted to take a few minutes to shed some light on the subject, and hopefully clear up some of the common misconceptions that people have. While it would be wonderful to be able to discuss all aspects of home maintenance with you, there is simply no way to cover everything in one short article.
Now you may think that gutter cleaning is not a very important home maintenance chore. Let it go for awhile, and you may soon find you couldn’t be more wrong. Many people underestimate the importance of this relatively simple job. It can be hired out fairly inexpensively too.
To understand, really, you need to know how your gutter system works. The gutter system on a house is a relatively simple system. This system is made up of two basic parts. These parts are the gutters and the downspouts. When it rains or snows the water is diverted off of your house by the roof shingles. The water is then collected in the gutters which will direct the water to the downspout. The water flows down the downspout and away from the foundation of your home.
So Why Is Regular Gutter Cleaning So Important?
When water enters a gutter that’s cluttered or clogged, the water is slowed down through the debris. Since the water can not pass through the gutter quickly enough, the water only has two options. The first option is for the water to leak from around the seams and edges of the gutters. The second option is that the gutter will become too heavy from carrying the excess water and will eventually tear away from the house. Ouch!
No matter which one of these scenarios occurs, you will be looking at more expensive repair bills. In the first scenario where the water either leaks through the seems or overflows from the top of the gutters, the water is no longer being diverted away from your home’s foundation. This can easily mean flooded basements and other possible and even extensive water damage.
In the second scenario where the gutter is ripped from the house, not only could you be looking at water damage, you will also be looking at roof damage as well (not to mention the cost of new gutters). So as you can see, cleaning your gutters on a regular basis is extremely important.
If you don’t want to clean your gutters by yourself or simply do not have the proper equipment to do the job, there are plenty of inexpensive contractors and handymen who are more than willing to do the job.
DIY Gutter Cleaning
The first line of defense against a clogged gutter is a good, strong pair of gloves and a ladder. Leaves, twigs and dirt can accumulate and bare hands won’t do the job very well. Once the gutters are fairly cleaned out, use a garden hose, or preferably a power washer to “blast” out the remaining debris.
Check out your downspouts and make sure they are not clogged either. A blast of water may unclog them, but you may also need to remove a section to get large build-ups cleared away.
Whether you attack gutter cleaning yourself or hire it out, be sure and clean your gutters on a regular basis to keep them trouble free and doing what they were made to do, for years to come.
