There are always plenty of tasks on your spring to-do list, from cleaning house to readying the yard for the summer growing season. While you’re checking off “inspect the roof” from the list, give your gutters some attention, too.
Clogs
When your gutters get clogged, the backed up water could damage your roof and underlying wood. A good problem area to start with is the downspout. Most clogged downspouts can be cleared by spraying water up them to dislodge the debris.
If the clog is especially stubborn, a toilet snake might do the trick. If worst comes to worst, you may have to remove the entire section to more easily spot the problem.
Cleaning
Springtime is a great time to clean gutters, since snow melt always leaves behind dirt. If you have a lot of trees on your property, cleaning is an important part of keeping your home in good shape.
Another advantage to cleaning is that damage becomes more visible. Things to watch out for include the following.
- Sagging
- Cracks
- Damaged or missing fasteners
- Holes
- Corrosion