If there’s one house maintenance task that everyone should do, but nobody really wants to, it’s cleaning out the gutters. It’s a cold, grubby job that will have you up and down ladders and wrist deep in muck but if you don’t keep on top of it, the consequences can be serious. Given its importance (and high level of hassle) many people these days are opting to have this chore sorted by professionals.
What’s So Important About Gutters?
Gutters are one of those parts of the house where “out of sight, out of mind” often applies. But while you can get away with ignoring them for a little bit, eventually it’ll come back to bite you. This is because over time, unprotected gutters get gunked up with leaves, dirt and other sediment – even living plants that grow in the accumulated dirt! During a big downpour, this can cause problems ranging from overflows to additional guttering damage and in-house leaks.
Clearing out your gutters from time to time is an obvious solution, but it’s also possible to prevent them from getting so easily clogged in the first place. Gutter protection, which usually involves a metallic mesh fixed over the open channels, significantly cuts down on the amount of solid material that can get into the gutters in the first place. A little bit of proactive prevention can really make a huge difference to how often they need to be cleaned.
Cleaning Season
If the gutters on your house haven’t been cleaned out in a while, there’s never a bad time to get onto it – but there are certain times of the year when it’s particularly important. Autumn brings a double dose of problems: increased rainfall, and all those falling leaves. It might be fun to shuffle through a pile of leaves at the park, but just imagine what that leafy mass is doing to your house.
That’s why autumn (and, to a lesser extent, winter) is the perfect time to get this sorted. And remember: it’s not only about what’s in your gutters – it’s also about their condition. Over time, guttering can deteriorate, thanks to rust or other wear-and-tear elements, requiring repair. It’s often best to get it all taken care of at once, both cleaning and repair, as this can end up saving you time and money in the long run.
If you’d like to avoid all the mess and hassle of keeping your gutters in top condition, El Contractor has services and solutions to fit your needs. Why get your hands dirty with one of the most annoying parts of house maintenance, when the professionals are only a call away?
