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Tips On Maintaining Your Gutters in Winter
It is vital to have properly functioning gutters and downspouts during the winter and rainy seasons. By installing a gutter system, you can ensure that rainwater and 
melting snow are diverted away from your home’s exterior as well as the foundation. Even though this time of year can bring a fair amount of rain depending on where you live, winter is when you should make sure your gutters are in great shape. As the ice expands, a large number of problems can occur, including damaged fascias and cracked foundations.
Performing winter gutter maintenance in advance can help prevent unnecessary damage and expensive gutter repairs during the winter, ultimately saving you time and money. Well-maintained gutters and downspouts help divert water away from your house and prevent pooling water from damaging your home. Regardless of whether it is important all year long, a properly functioning gutter system is never more vital than during the winter months.
Frost expands as it freezes, causing serious damage to the fascia and requiring thousands of dollars to fix a cracked foundation. Even if you clean your gutters regularly, leaves, twigs, and other debris can accumulate in gutters when snow begins to melt, causing clogs and other problems. It may be unpleasant to clean gutters during cold weather, but it can prevent costly repairs caused by inclement weather. You might not be thinking about your gutters when winter hits, but it’s important to have them in good condition. Snow and ice, as well as clogged and sagging gutters, can greatly damage a home, causing severe damage.
Tips To Preserve Your Roof And Gutters Over The Winter
Keeping Gutters Clean
When the weather turns cold, it’s important to keep your gutter system as clean as possible. This will ensure that your gutters perform as they should. You must pay special attention to areas where leaves and other debris are likely to accumulate, especially corners and joints. Consider installing gutter protection systems if you’d like to minimize or even eliminate the need to clean your gutters. Remember: Keeping your gutters clean is important, but only when the weather allows. Always take safety precautions!
Check For Structural Damage
As you are clearing debris and running water through your gutters, check for any structural problems along the way. Ensure that your gutters don’t have any splitting seams, corrosion, or loose anchors. If you notice any of these problems, fix them right away. Useless gutters can lead to all of the problems mentioned above, like leaks, mold, and stains on the side of the house. While you are running your hose through the gutters is the best time to check for leaks, as they will be obvious. If your gutters need a full replacement in a section, do the replacement as soon as you can. Don’t wait until next season when it’s too late and the damage from this season has already been done.
Inspect Downspouts And Diverters
Don’t forget to check the downspouts for any blockages. If they are blocked, water won’t be able to drain properly and can lead to overflow leaks. Clear out any debris and make sure water flows freely through them. Water should be diverted at least ten feet away from the house to prevent any foundational problems. If it is pooling, you may need to reconsider your diverters or take note of anything that could be causing the pooling and fix it immediately.
There should be a downward slope of at least 10 feet from the foundation for water rerouting. Make sure water is flowing away from the house instead of pooling. Detach the downspout from a rain barrel until warmer weather returns or add a hose to the barrel drain to discharge pass-through water away from the house if water is diverted to the barrel.
Apply Heat Tape And De-icer
If any ice buildup has developed inside the gutters and troughs, install heat tape on them to remove it. Ice blockage on your roof can cause water damage, so de-icer and heating tape will ensure that your house remains structurally sound during the winter months.
Hire A Professional Gutter Cleaning Service
For your roof and gutters to stay protected during the winter, you shouldn’t do everything yourself, whether you need a few thorough repairs or a complete gutter replacement. Hire a reputable gutter cleaning company to keep your gutters clean and protected this winter and you will save money, time, and stress.
Install Gutters Guards
You may already have gutters on your home, but splash guards may be necessary to upgrade them. Consider installing splash guards if you have ever checked the perimeter of your house after heavy rainfall and seen dirt splashed up onto the side of your house, or if the dirt around your home was disturbed as a result of the force of rainfall hitting the ground. Water should be directed away from the home effectively with splash guards installed at the bottom of your downspouts as well as on your roof itself as a way to prevent unwanted mold and mildew growth from forming. You may want to install leaf guards if you live in an area where trees are abundant, as they prevent leaves and large pieces of debris from clogging your gutters. Keep your leaf guards clean by checking and cleaning them twice a year.
As Winter Approaches, Protect Your Gutters
The perfect time for gutter maintenance is now, while it’s still warm enough to work outdoors and before all of the leaves fall from the trees, clogging your gutters and creating more work for you as a homeowner. Backed-up gutters can lead to gutter overflow, leaks, mold growth and stains, and even roofing and foundational problems. Before your gutters cost you thousands in repairs, follow these simple maintenance steps before winter is in full swing.
Don’t forget the downspouts
Your gutters carry the water and debris that washes off the roof, but your downspouts do the rest of the work. Without them, all that water would drain at the base of your home, which can compromise the foundation.
Inspect the downspouts for rust, leaks, holes or corroded joints the same way you did for the gutters. Repair compromised issues, and replace any downspouts that are beyond repair. Does the runoff pool a little too close to your foundation or walkways for comfort? Take this opportunity to use downspout extenders to provide better drainage.