How to Prepare Your Rain Gutters for Storm Season.
It is more crucial than ever for homeowners to appropriately prepare their homes for the onslaught of adverse weather as hurricane season gets harsher year after year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted that there would be a 70% likelihood of an above-average hurricane season in 2022, making it the seventh year in a row of above-average activity. Gutter systems and other external features of homes are extremely vulnerable to hurricanes. Cleaning and maintaining your gutters properly is essential to keeping your house safe from damaging storms. You can ensure that your rain gutters are ready for the rain and strong winds that come with storm season by following the advice provided below.
1. Clean Your Gutters.
Cleaning gutters before hurricane season is one of the easiest things homeowners can do to get them ready for storms and severe weather.
Your gutters may become clogged with leaves, mud, sticks, and other organic matter, making it difficult for rainfall to properly drain from your home. This may cause the water to overflow, collect, or run off onto the siding of your home. Additionally, it might cause expensive interior water damage to your house.
Gutter and downspout cleaning is a pretty easy task. Only a ladder and a bucket should be required, though you could also use a leaf blower. To avoid further clogging, it is also advisable to remove leaves and other debris from your roof and the surrounding areas.
The majority of homes only require a twice-yearly gutter and downspout cleaning. However, a more frequent check for debris is advised if you live in a highly wooded location or have trees over your property, especially before storm season.
No matter how skillfully your downspouts or gutters channel water, a yard full of leaves will prevent adequate drainage. Avoid dumping leaves onto the lawn while cleaning out your gutters because doing so could damage the downspouts. To be best prepared for extreme weather, properly dispose of them in a rubbish bag or compost container.
Gutter repair done correctly will benefit homes year-round, not just during bad weather. Additionally, they will provide roof protection, assist avoid water damage, lessen pest problems, and safeguard the foundation of your house.
Gutter guards, such as screen guards, fine mesh guards, and surface tension guards, can be installed by homeowners to save time and keep gutters clear of debris.
2. Examine Any Current Rain Gutter Damage.
Regular gutter maintenance is recommended to increase lifetime, just like with any other component of your house. Regularly checking them for damage, particularly before storm season, can help stop further harm to the gutters and safeguard your home.
Cracking, rust, paint damage, leaking or separated seals, rotting, mold or mildew, separation from the roof, and drooping gutters are all examples of gutter damage.
Some of these issues can be rapidly fixed using do-it-yourself techniques. Damage in other ways could indicate that it's time to replace the gutters. The good news is that replacing gutters is often significantly less expensive than repairing the harm they cause when they are disregarded. Additionally, it is a chance to put up brand-new gutters. You can search for a gutter system that is incredibly resilient and will withstand storms better than your old rain gutter system.
Take Care of Your Downspouts.
The downspouts are an aspect of the gutter system that is sometimes disregarded. These pieces safely channel water from your roof and down the side of your house. The downspout is where the water departs from the structure. To avoid pooling, the downspout should be at least three feet away from the house. Pooling and overflowing can harm your home's foundation, lead to broken walls and siding, flood your basement, and leave your flooring uneven.
How to Examine the State of Downspouts?
Run water from the roof down the gutter system to test the performance of the downspout function and the location of the drain for homeowners. Pooling at a downspout's beginning while the hose is running indicates a blockage further down the tube. Before the hurricane season, this important problem needs to be resolved.
Use an auger or drain snake from a plumber to enter the downspout and remove the obstruction. Run the line numerous times through the downspout at various angles. When you feel any pressure, move it about and turn the line in those spots. The clog is most likely located here.
Run fresh water through the downspout to flush out the now-loose particles and clear the pathway after cleaning out the downspout with your snake. If water doesn't collect during flushing, the obstruction has been successfully removed.
Homeowners can install downspout extenders or contact a gutter professional to fix the problem if flowing water exits the gutter system too close to the siding.
When Should You Hire a Professional Gutter Cleaner?
We can assist you if you believe you need help getting your gutters ready for storm season. Our gutter specialists can help you with gutter cleaning, gutter repair, and making sure your gutters are strong enough to handle strong winds and rain.
