A Guide to Fall Gutter Maintenance

With the beautiful season of fall comes a slew of home preparations for the falling leaves and cooling temperatures. Despite the beauty of the season, fallen leaves and debris can clog up your gutters and increase the chances of winter malfunctions. Because your roof compensates for clogged or damaged gutters, it is important to keep up on maintenance. To keep your gutters in great shape, follow this guide to fall gutter maintenance.

While fall gutter maintenance is essential, it can be a potentially dangerous job. It is important that you wear proper gloves and eye protection. Additionally, you should use a standalone ladder and make sure the steps are dry and free of debris. Safety should be your first priority when performing fall gutter maintenance.

It is important to inspect your gutters often. Neglected leaves can rot, weigh down gutters, and can potentially damage your whole gutter system. You should also inspect the gutters and downspouts themselves. Are they pulling away from the house? Are the seams starting to split? Is the downspout loose? Are they full of debris? By inspecting your gutters and properly maintaining or replacing them as needed, you will save yourself stress and aggravation in the future.

Fallen leaves and debris are the leading cause of gutter damage. No one likes to do it, but it has to be done. This could include spending a weekend climbing up there to get every last seed, pod, twig, and leaf. To begin, start at the downspout and work your way up. This ensures that no further leaves or debris will go down the piping. Remove as many leaves as you can, including the wet and packed leaves at the bottom. Work your way up the ladder and clear debris from the rest of the gutters.

Trim Branches- The trees and branches that grow over the summer months can obstruct your gutters or roof. When the wind blows, leaves and seeds start to fall into the gutters and clog them up. Make sure to trim these branches back to prepare them for fall. If there are a lot of trees near your home, this may need to be done once or even twice a month during the fall season.

Water Leak Test- After clearing gutters of debris, you should perform a water leak test. Run a steady stream of water through your gutter system. Look for water dripping from the gutter, this will identify any cracks within the gutter. This will allow you to address these issues before they become a serious problem.

Seal Cracks- Once you have identified cracks and leaks, they should be sealed as soon as possible. You should be able to address any minor leaks with a quality sealant. However, for more severe damage, you should call Siefken.

The last essential tip to prepare your gutters for fall is to hire a professional. Siefken’s team can help investigate the issues you have with your gutters and repair or replace them if necessary. Even if you don’t spot an apparent issue, it is still a good idea to have your gutters inspected periodically as a preventative measure. When your gutters are damaged, your roof bears the brunt of the issue. Siefken Contracting can recommend the best products and perform quick installation on your property. Siefken also offers seamless gutter systems with gutter guards to keep your gutters clear and prevent ice and water damage.