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Don’t Neglect Your Gutters

Throughout the fall season,
it’s hard not to have the constant presence of fallen leaves to remind us of
the weekend house work we have to do.  Although
a freshly swept yard comes with a since of accomplishment, your leaf clearing
and home maintenance doesn’t end there. 
Every homeowner needs to remember the sometimes yucky task of cleaning
out your gutters.  Since it’s out of
sight, it’s often out of mind; however it’s important that you don’t neglect
them for a number of reasons.

The obvious effect of gutters
full of is overflowing gutters, but what may not be so obvious is how this prolonged
overflowing can cause serious damage. Take a look at this list of problems you
could be facing with clogged gutters:

  • Leaks
    and flooding: I’ve seen homeowners with water in their basement, water
    streaming down a living room wall and everything in between.
  • Mildew
    and mold: Not only do you have to worry about the gutters themselves getting skuzzy,
    but the interior of your house that was subject to leaks is also prone to mold.
  • Erosion:
    If severe enough, damaged gutters can rust out causing your whole system to
    fail

So how do you properly maintain gutters? It
takes more than just washing down the gutters with a garden hose.  You need to get your hands dirty and scoop
out all of the caked in, soggy leaves and debris.  Depending on how many trees you have close to
the house I recommend to do this a few times throughout the fall season.  At the end of the fall when all of the leaves
have fallen, do a more thorough clean to make sure nothing is blocking the
gutters and downspouts before the temperature dips below freezing.  A combination of debris and ice can do
serious gutter damage.  Remember to periodically
check the gutters at other points in the year as well.

If getting your hands dirty
in this fashion is not something that you want to take on every year, consider
getting some type of gutter cover installed. 
My brand I typically install when providing handyman services in Northeast Georgia is Gutter Guards, but there are many brands available that
are similar in construction, installation, and color to coordinate with your
home’s exterior.  Not only will they take
away nearly all of the ongoing of cleaning out your gutters, but future
potential buyers will also appreciate the extra step in making your home lower
maintenance.