Cleaning your gutters in the fall is important to keep your home safe and dry during the winter. But it can be hard for homeowners to find the time to clean them themselves or to have (or try to borrow) the tools they need.
We’ve listed the three most important reasons why fall gutter cleaning is so important, as well as what any homeowner can do to make fall gutter cleaning easy and quick.
Leaves Are Your Biggest Challenge
Gutters that are full of leaves can’t do their job right. The leaves stop water from flowing smoothly away from your roof and away from your home. Water is also held in the gutters by leaves. When it gets colder, this water could freeze and cause a lot of trouble.
Your biggest problem is getting these leaves and any other debris that has built up in your gutters out. Now all you have to do is find the time and tools to do it.
To learn more about proper gutter care, check out our Gutter Installation guide.
Temperatures below freezing can cause serious problems
In the coming colder months, water can freeze and get stuck in your gutters. This ice then turns into a solid wall that keeps water from running off your roof. During the winter, water on your roof can come from rain, but if you live in a place where it gets really cold, the water is likely coming from snow and ice that has melted.
If frozen water has frozen into a solid wall in your gutters, this water is trapped and will either freeze or overflow your gutter line. This is called an “ice dam,” and the water that builds up behind it can damage your roof, insulation, ceilings, and walls.
For additional tips on how to maintain gutters during seasonal changes, read The Importance of Regular Gutter Cleaning and Seasonal Maintenance.
Water and Pest Damage
Maybe your climate is a little bit milder, and the only change is that it rains more in the winter or that it gets colder. If your gutters are full of leaves, both can be a problem. If water doesn’t move away from your house smoothly, it will get into your walls, ceilings, and foundation.
All of these are expensive and time-consuming to fix, and you don’t want to deal with them in the winter or around the holidays.
Pests like squirrels, mice, and birds can also be a problem when your gutters are full of leaves because they will use them as a place to nest. They will also often get into your house through any opening they can find.
What homeowners can do to clean gutters in the fall
The options for homeowners are:
- Doing nothing
- Doing it themselves
- Getting a professional to clean your gutters
A lot of homeowners, unfortunately, just do nothing. They don’t clean their gutters in the fall because they are too busy, don’t have the right tools, or think it would be too expensive to hire a professional.
There are a lot of challenges that come with doing it yourself, not the least of which is having the right tools, as we’ve talked about above. But the time it takes and the risk of working on ladders or walking on roofs maybe even more important than the equipment.
In the long run, hiring a professional gutter cleaning company is the fastest, most efficient, and most cost-effective way to take care of your fall gutter cleaning needs. Unlike a handyman or a lawn care company, a professional gutter cleaning company like EC Bergen County Gutters & Power Washing will be licensed and insured to clean gutters.
So, if you want to protect your home and save time and money this fall and winter, hiring a professional gutter cleaning service like EC Bergen County Gutters & Power Washing is the way to go. Use the box below to start getting a quote right away.
Looking for a trusted service? Learn more about our Gutter Cleaning Services today.