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Prepping Gutters for Winter Snow

 

Sweaters, hockey, and hot cocoa are all wonderful parts of experiencing the colder months, and these are much easier to appreciate knowing your home is safe from the cold. Gutters are an important feature in protecting your home from all types of precipitation, and snow is no exception. Ensuring your gutters are properly maintained for the Winter months is one of the best ways to preserve your investment.

It’s important to keep your gutters clean and ready to take on any challenge. After that, you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the incoming winter wonderland!

There’s Snow Way

Precipitation comes in many forms: rain, hail, snow, sleet, or any combination of these. Weather is unpredictable, so it is important to make sure your gutters are prepared for everything. Snow is one of the riskiest forms of precipitation for gutters as it tends to pile up and stick around throughout the winter if there are no warm enough days to melt it.

The piled-up snow can weigh down your gutters causing strain to the edges of your roof and potentially warping your gutters as the slow melting and refreezing of snow can result in a dense block of ice. Winter is beautiful, but it can pose a risk to your gutters.

Gutter Maintenance

Thankfully, there are ways to prevent getting ice in your gutters in the first place. One of the best ways to do this is by cleaning your gutters often in the Fall as leaves pose one of the largest risks in causing gutters to freeze by clogging them up and causing water to exit more slowly. This extended drainage time allows water to freeze and remain in your gutters.

You can prevent leaf clogs by implementing clog prevention measures such as gutter guards and by routinely cleaning your gutters by scooping out the debris with a special gutter scoop, and then flushing them with water to remove the smaller particles.

Safety and Home Protection Tips

While cleaning your gutters, it is very important to practice safety measures as you will be working on a ladder. Always make sure your ladder is sturdy and placed on solid flat ground to ensure that it doesn’t fall. It is also a good idea to ask someone to assist or check on you periodically to ensure that you are safe. Gutter cleaning is not something to rush, so take your time, be safe, and make sure they are free of clogs!

It is important to clean your downspouts as well as the main gutters to ensure the water has somewhere to go. Another detail to check for while cleaning your gutters is sagging. If your gutters are sagging, falling off, or damaged in any way, it is time to call a professional such as Gutter Pros to ensure they are safely repaired or replaced.

Final Thoughts

Installing and maintaining gutters is one of the best ways to protect your home’s walls, foundation, and roof from costly winter damage. Well-maintained gutters can divert water from your home, and this will preserve its value, foundation, and beauty for years on end. Winter is coming, so it is important to make sure your gutters are ready to handle the cold. If you need assistance with gutter repair, installation, or leaf prevention methods, call Gutter Pros today!