As the weather gets colder, it's important to think about gutter cleaning on your home. Your gutters take water down your roof and away from your home. If your gutters are clogged, water builds up and can get up and under your roof. When the weather starts to freeze, your gutters are going to become full of ice and no longer work properly. Gutter damage occurs when there is too much weight in the gutters, and this happens as ice builds up. You can end up having the gutters pull away from your home, have ice dams build up, and have a general mess on your hands when the spring comes.

Trying to Clean Your Own Gutters

Unless you have the right equipment, trying to clean your own rain gutters is a major chore. You will want to have a ladder high enough so that you can reach your gutters, and a powerful enough hose to wash through debris. You will need to feel steady while you are standing on the ladder, and be able to manage the equipment while trying to clean your gutters. If you have a second story home, it's generally better to have a professional come and clean your gutters.

How Often to Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters should be cleaned twice a year to prevent the buildup of debris. If there are a lot of trees in your yard that shed leaves, try to wait until the trees are done so that you can make sure you get all the leaves that end up in your gutters. Small animals also like to make nests in your gutters, and these need to be cleaned out as well. You should get your gutters cleaned in the late fall when the leaves are done shedding, and in the spring, when you are doing your yearly spring yard cleanup.

If You See Gutter Damage

You may note gutter damage if you can see a clear water drip line coming from between your gutter and roof, landing on the ground and damaging your landscaping. You might see your gutter pulling away from the home or notice that water is flowing towards your foundation instead of away. When you see damage to your gutter system, it's important to get this repaired as soon as possible. When you ignore gutter damage, this can lead to damage to the exterior and interior of your home.

For more information, contact a gutter cleaning service in your area.