Proper functioning gutters are important for maintaining the structural integrity of your roof and preventing stormwater and rain from accumulating on your roof due to clogged drain pipes.
Malfunctioning gutters can cause house flooding and damage to the exterior walls of the house. Thus, it’s important to maintain your home’s gutter system by consulting Arizona roofing experts, or you can do it yourself if you have the right tools.
In this article, we will discuss gutter maintenance and cleaning tips, so you don’t have to worry about flooding and accumulating water.
Gutter Maintenance Tips
Inspect
Before you consult an Arizona roofing expert, you first need to identify the problem. Thus, inspect your roof and see if it’s the cause of flooding and accumulating water. If you see water or mold growing on the roof or in the attic, then that means the gutters are clogged and unable to drain the water. Keep in mind that water damage from rain gutters can cause mold growth.
Install Gutter Covers
One of the best gutter maintenance tips is to install gutter covers. A gutter cover or guard is a perforated cover that is fixed on top of the gutter opening and prevents big objects like branches, leaves, and twigs from clogging your gutter.
Reposition Downspouts
Gutter downspouts collect water and funnel it a couple of feet away from your home. Their positioning is important because too much slope means the water drains quickly and can damage your house’s exterior, whereas less slope won’t move the water away from your home. So adjust the positioning and check it regularly.
Gutter Cleaning Tips
Check for Debris
Gutter cleaning tips are important so that you have to do minimum repair and maintenance over time. The first thing you need to do is remove any debris from your roof, like branches, twigs, and leaves. And also, trim any trees close to your roof as in extreme weather conditions, they could further damage your roof and clog your drain.
Use Proper Equipment
It’s best to consult Arizona roofing experts for gutter maintenance and cleaning, but you need to have the proper tools and equipment to prevent injuries if you are doing the job yourself. For example, a ladder to reach the roof and inspect it for any cracks, clogged drain, debris, etc. You also need gloves and a water hose to clean the gutter.
Unclog Downspouts
Among the many gutter cleaning tips, unclogging downspouts are highly effective. Clogged downspouts result in water backing up in case of thunderstorms and rains. Thus check and unclog your downspouts. You can also do this by using your water hose and spraying the water under high pressure to unclog it.
Other tips involve regularly cleaning your gutter, looking for repairs, etc. Now that you know the best gutter maintenance and cleaning tips, you can routinely inspect and maintain your gutter system. Still, if you notice any significant cracks or mold growing, it’s best to call Arizona roofing experts to examine the situation and provide the best course of action.
