Preparing your Gutters for Fall

Between the colorful leaves and pleasant weather, fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Central Ohio. While the area is undeniably beautiful during these few months, the falling leaves and colder temperatures create a “to-do” list necessary to prepare your home for the upcoming change of season.

Easily one of the most dreaded parts of yard work this time of the year is cleaning the gutters. However unpleasant this job may be, it’s absolutely necessary in making sure your gutters are clean, unclogged, and damage-free just in time for the approaching onslaught of rain and snow. To make this chore as painless as possible, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks that will guarantee gutter-cleaning success.

Clean often

During the fall, it’s easy for leaves and other natural debris to get stuck in your gutters and create a clog. The best way to prevent excessive gutter backup during the autumn months is to clean them several times throughout the year. The fall is by far one of those times when gutters need multiple cleanings. In order to prevent clogs, professionals recommend having your gutters cleaned at least twice a year.

Trim nearby trees and branches

As fall already includes falling leaves and twigs, make the season easier on yourself by trimming the trees and branches near your gutters. By getting rid of the branches, you are also getting rid of the possibility of excessive leaf buildup in your gutters. Remove the source and remove the issues! 

Check for damages

Whether you are cleaning your gutters yourself or having them cleaned, make sure to check for any holes or cracks in your gutters. Cracks and holes could worsen during the upcoming cold months, making leaks a likelier possibility. Plugging up cracks and holes in your gutters prevents them from springing a leak later in the season, which could lead to water and other debris seeping into the foundation or basement of your home. Moreover, fall and winter bring heavy rain and snow, the weight of which could make cracks and holes more of an issue. It’s best to head into the fall with sturdy, damage-free gutters.

Don’t forget about the downspouts!

While cleaning your gutters, it can be easy to forget about the downspouts. A simple mix-up, like forgetting to clean the spouts, could lead to unfortunate results; a backed-up downspout creates quite the mess after a heavy storm. By unclogging your downspout and keeping it free of leaves and excess water, you are saving yourself a world of trouble in the future.

Call a professional

If you are scared of heights or if you don’t own a sturdy ladder, it’s best to leave this job to a professional. Climbing a tall ladder to clean the gutters is definitely a dangerous job, and it’s one that’s best left to the pros if you are unequipped with the right tools. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, make sure you have a spotter or someone nearby to make sure the ladder or scaffolding is sturdy to eliminate a bad fall.