It is Time to be Proactive with Your Gutters

The Fall DecentYou may have noticed during the last rain that your gutters were full and with the leaves preparing their Fall decent, it is time to give your gutters some serious TLC. Gutters have a higher purpose then you may suspect.... Your gutters help keep your home dry and safe. They direct water away from the house, diminish the ability of water damage to your basement, siding, roof, walls, foundation, and more. A little love for your gutters today can save you thousands of dollars in damage and repairs down the road.

Even though you may have convinced your spouse that your gutters are really just your way to break into the terraced tree farming market, we are not convinced. Gutter maintenance is every bit as valuable to your home as it is tedious to your time so it is time to get them clean. However, like every home maintenance project is not without risk, and is a task that could lead to serious injuries if proper safety precautions aren't taken. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you on the way:

• Build Up! Clean your gutters at least 2 times a year (Spring and Fall), but more often if you have large trees, a big storm came through, or if you notice build up that is blocking water flow.
• Safety First! You do not know what is growing or living in there so make sure to wear your protective gear: safety goggles, heavy duty work gloves, and old clothes. Make sure that you have a safe and secure ladder and someone watching to assist if needed. If you are unsure or uncomfortable call a gutter cleaning service to do the work for you.
• Tools! There are many tools out there to help make gutter cleaning easier: scoops to clean at eye level, wet/dry vacuums to suck up or blow out the leaves, hose attachments, or even long poles to clean at ground level.

While you are there...While you are cleaning your gutters it is an excellent time to look for granule loss from your shingles due summer storms. Much like our gutters, we only seem to think of our roofs when the water is already pouring on our heads, but occasional assessments can help prevent irrevocable damage to the structure of your home.You can notice granule loss while working eye level with the gutters or your assessment can be done on ground level. Loose granules will wash down the roof and appear in the gutters and downspouts. If the granules appear after a hail storm, or if the roof is quite old, they are more likely to indicate roof wear or damage.If you notice an excessive amount of granule loss or missing shingles it is time to call a roofing contractor. They can safely inspect your roof. Most companies, including Ryan Windows & Siding, offers free inspections and estimates!