People think gutter cleaning is reserved for the warmer seasons, but keeping them clear during the winter is also vital. Your home’s gutters play a critical role in keeping water from entering your home. Since your gutters are bound to have an increase in water and snow flow during winter weather, they must be clean and ready to direct water and melting snow away from your home. If you fail to do this, your home is at risk of leaks or other damage. Read on to learn some of the biggest reasons you should keep your gutters clean during cold winter.
Frozen Debris
The risk of your gutters being clogged doesn’t disappear once all leaves have fallen from the trees. If you haven’t cleaned your gutters before the freezing weather reaches your home, then all the water, leaves, and debris in them will turn to ice! This forces the water from melted snow to have nowhere to go and could result in ice dams being formed. Once ice dams are constructed, you’re looking at severe risks for leaks.
Sagging Gutters
Once the water in your gutter freezes, it’s not much longer until the heavier debris does too. Your gutters aren’t meant to hold this additional weight, and it can cause them to tear or pull away from home. This will leave them looking like they are sagging, which isn’t a pretty look or beneficial to your home. This extra weight would also cause any of the hardware securing your gutters to pull away from your home or come completely unattached. This could cause your gutters to fall entirely. Not only are heavy and sagging gutters extremely dangerous, but they could result in needing a complete gutter replacement.
Health Danger
If your gutters remain filled with debris through the winter, your family is at risk for health and safety issues. Debris like leaves, pine needles, and twigs will pile up quickly and create the perfect breeding ground for contaminants such as mildew and mold that can easily sneak under the eaves and into the soffit and attic of your home. People who suffer from asthma or allergies will be affected by the increased harmful mold spores or mildew in the air. Clean your gutters throughout the winter to remove and destroy potentially harmful contaminants before they become a severe health risk.
More Extensive Repairs
Besides cleaning your gutters regularly, you should also have them inspected. During the inspection, your contractor will carefully examine your gutter system’s vital elements for stability. We ensure the fasteners are intact and properly working and inspect the fascia board for any evidence of rot. They also check your gutter system to detect any early signs of damage to your home. Examining the critical elements of your gutter system can help guard you against expensive water damage and address issues before they become more serious.
How We Can Help
Arnett Roofing and Construction is built on a solid foundation of trust and loyalty, ensuring that every one of our clients is adequately taken care of during any roofing project. If you suspect it’s time for a gutter inspection, contact our experts ASAP! We will provide you with a FREE inspection and ensure that any repairs needed are done swiftly and correctly.
