Don't forget the gutters

Autumn brings beautifully coloured foliage just before many trees shed their leaves. The falling leaves land on rooftops and become lodged in eavestrough systems, causing water to pool. Once temperatures dip below freezing, ponding water becomes heavy blocks of ice. Gutters begin to sag under the weight and often require replacement.

The key to fall gutter cleaning is to wait as long as possible for every last leaf to drop, and then get the gutters cleaned before it snows and freezes over. If your downspouts are clogged when it snows or ices, the melting water can’t drain and causes a slew of problems. For example water expands when it freezes, therefore it can stretch open seems on gutters and eventually bust them open. The other major thing that happens is the snow and ice will build up and slowly pull the gutters from the wall.

 If your gutters are clogged with debris and they become frozen, then it can become very difficult to remove the debris so that the gutters can drain properly.  This is why you must clean your gutters “before” they freeze to prevent damage.

Debris accumulation that becomes frozen can be extremely heavy and will cause the gutters to become loose over time. If the gutters are not secure this can cause the gutters to fall off the house completely. Frozen gutters are also known to pull the wood trim off the house along with them when they fall. This is very problematic for many reasons.

When gutters fall off a house, they expose the wood behind the gutter to the wet weather. Moisture, wind, and temperature changes can all take a toll on the exposed wood. The paint that protects the wood can be diminished and the wood itself will deteriorate if unprotected for any extended periods of time. If the wood is pulled off with the gutter when it falls it can expose your attic to the cold weather and to wild animals who may be looking for a warm shelter.

Routine gutter cleaning and maintenance throughout the year especially before winter helps prevent ice damming. Cleaning could be required several times a year depending on the surrounding tree coverage near your home.