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Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Running Smoothly With Maintenance

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Dirty-GuttersWe rarely ever stop to think about our gutters and just how important a role they play in protecting our homes. Almost all homes have gutters and downspouts. They prevent the roof line and the foundation of the house from damage by collecting all the rain from the roof, and channeling it through the downspout and away from the foundation.

But gutters only function if they are clear. Problems can arise when you live in a home surrounded by overhanging trees and branches. The gutters will eventually fill up with leaves and debris, clogging the downspouts. As such, it is highly recommended that you get them cleaned every spring and fall to keep them in good working order.

How to Clean Your Gutters

Start your cleaning by removing any large pieces of debris such as leaves and twigs from around the downspouts. A trowel can come in handy when cleaning out the smaller materials. Remove all downspout strainers in place and clear any debris that may be caught in them. Once all the large debris has been removed, use a hose to flush whatever is left into the downspout.

If you notice that the water is not draining, there’s a good chance that the downspout is clogged. You can deal with this in a couple of ways. You can feed the hose up from the bottom of the spouting and blast through the blockage using high water pressure. Or simply use a plumber’s snake to clear the clog. Flush the entire gutter once more to make sure that everything is working as it should.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

clogged_dirty_guttersIn recent years, new products have become available to help us keep our gutters clean. These products are known as gutter screens. They allow only the water to drop into the gutter while the debris is filtered on top. They are fairly easy to install and come in several styles and types. Some can be attached below your roof shingles, whereas others simply snap into your gutters.

Before installing these gutter screens, be sure that the gutters have been thoroughly cleaned out. Calculate how many screens are needed. You can do this by measuring the length of your gutters. Once they have been installed, fasten them to the gutters using metal screws. This will keep them from blowing off in strong winds.

Now, while gutter screens will help protect your gutters and cut down on the amount of debris that ends up in them, it is still a good idea to pop them out periodically to get them cleaned out from small debris matter. If you prefer to leave gutter cleaning to professionals, contact Roussel Eavestrough and let them take care of your eavestrough maintenance needs. Their quality expert service will keep your gutters and downspouts in top shape so that they continue to function perfectly for a lifetime ahead.