Gutters are easy to ignore until something goes wrong. When gutters aren’t functioning, you can end up with rot or mold. These can be hard to detect and can cause health problems. If you take care of your gutters, they will do their job of routing and draining water away from your home. They will also last longer!

Summer is a great time to consider your gutters. Especially to clean and prepare them so that they are in good shape when colder weather hits.

Cleaning Your Gutters

You should clean your gutters at least twice a year: every spring and fall. If you have lots of trees around your home, it may be beneficial to clean them more frequently.

Be sure to clean the gutters in dry conditions. When leaves and other debris clogging the gutters are dry, they are much easier to remove. Rainstorms make gutter debris a slimy mess! Do not stand on the roof when cleaning your gutters–it’s easy to lose your balance. Instead, stand on a sturdy ladder and have someone spot you if you’re not totally comfortable.

Begin removing debris from your gutters near a downspout. You can use a trowel to scoop out whatever is blocking the gutter. This method works for larger debris; it’s a little different to get the smaller gunk out of the gutters. You can use a hose to flush it out, starting at the end opposite the downspout so the material will come out at the bottom.

If the gutter is clogged and you can’t see where, or if it just needs to be cleaned, we can help. You can try spraying the hose up from the other direction or using a plumber’s snake to break the blockage. If this fails, your contractor will be able to figure out how to fix the problem.

Gutter Guards

At Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement, we offer several different styles of Gutter Guards – lengths of metal that are custom-fitted to cover your gutters. Gutter Guards allow your gutters to do their job while keeping debris from clogging them.

We offer Leaf Relief Gutter Protection, a system that consists of an aluminum drain that fits snugly over the gutter, letting water in and keeping debris out.

The LeaFree gutter protection system is another option. It consists of a solid aluminum cover that protects your gutters while allowing water to drain from the roof through slits facing up.

Both systems are all but invisible and will make for easier gutter maintenance and longer-lasting gutters. Call today or stop by our office on Harrisburg Pike to consult with our home-improvement experts on which gutter system is right for you.