5 Reasons to Clean Your Gutters Before Winter

As a homeowner, there are usually many projects that need to be completed before winter. Many of us will make a list of the important jobs that need to be tackled first all the way down to the not so important. Caps & Damper is here to tell you that cleaning your gutters should not be at the bottom of your list and you may be surprised to learn why.

Snow and ice season is upon us and that means it’s imperative to make sure your gutters are not clogged and that the system is draining properly. Often times when leaves and other debris clog your gutters it can cause extensive damage to your roof all the way down to the foundation of your home.

Many people think gutter cleaning is a small task that can be pushed off and they don’t realize it can prevent bigger problems from occurring down the road. Gutter cleaning is not a fun weekend job that should be taken lightly. It’s a very messy, slippery and often times a dangerous job and our professionals will ensure your gutters are cleaned correctly.

Schedule Your Gutter Cleaning Now

Here are 5 reasons why you should clean your gutters and have our professionals do it:

1. It’s a Very Dirty & Dangerous Job
When you grab your ladder and climb up to the top of your home, you will not be pulling out dry pretty fall leaves. You will be faced with leaf litter, which is very wet, slimy, and slippery leaves mixed in with twigs, bugs, animal nests, dirty water, and more.  Our professionals are prepared and ready for these potentially hazardous conditions.  If you’re new at this, you may get startled unexpectedly or slip and lose your balance on the top of your ladder. That’s a very dangerous scenario that should be avoided at all cost.

2. Clogged Gutters Cause Roof Damage
If your gutters are clogged they can spill water directly onto your roof every time it rains and cause your roof to rot at a very fast pace. When your roof begins to rot, it can lead to wet insulation and that wet insulation can create dangerous mildew and mold inside of your home. If it gets extremely bad, it can cause structural damage to the framing all the way down to the foundation of your home.

3. Cause Ice Dams to Form
Did you notice an unusual amount of snow or ice build-up last year on your roof and gutter edge or huge icicles forming on the eves of your home?  Both of these problems are caused by ice dams and both spell trouble. When a gutter system is working improperly the water does not drain as it should, it essentially freezes right on the gutter to form an ice dam. An ice dam left untreated can tear off your gutters completely, ruin and saturate your shingles and end up dumping water inside of your home.

4. Cause Cracks in your Foundation
If water is overflowing from your gutters and then pools along your home’s foundation, it can end up freezing, which can cause it to expand and generate cracks in your foundation.  A cracked foundation is unsettling and could mean costly repairs depending on how the foundation cracks. Cracks that run horizontally are usually the most serious type of crack because it signals serious structural damage.

5. Cause Damage to Fascia
The fascia is the wood that runs right behind your gutter. If your gutters are not operating efficiently it will cause water to overflow and damage this important component of your gutter system. When fascia board is damaged and rotted, it can become a very costly repair just like everything on this list.

Take the pressure off and take the time to schedule your gutter cleaning now. Don’t wait until it’s too late and you end up costing yourself a lot more money. Let Caps & Dampers help you keep your gutter system in great working condition all year long.

When was the last time you had your gutters inspected and cleaned? Schedule your appointment with Caps and Dampers for your gutter cleaning today! For more information, call us at (860) 323-8123.