How to Keep Your Roof and Gutters Clean During the Fall

Fall is the season of change. Leaves are falling, pumpkins are being carved, and people are starting to bundle up for winter. It’s also the perfect time to remember that your roof needs some maintenance too! However, if you haven’t already taken care of it this summer, now may be a good time to take care of your gutters. You’ll want to keep them clean, so they don’t get clogged with leaves over the fall months ahead. Here are ways and tips to keep your roof and gutters clean during the fall.

Rake Up Leaves from Around the Gutters

If you have been taking care of your gutters this fall, you may not need to do a lot of work getting rid of leaves. If you haven’t, it’s important to be aware that piles of leaves can easily clog gutters and make them overflow. Additionally, if those leaves begin to mold or rot, they can cause damage to your roof. It’s best to keep the gutters clean of leaves altogether. Use a rake or leaf blower to remove them from around where the gutter hangs down.

Brush/Shovel the Gutters

If the debris is too heavy, you may need to remove some of it by hand. Make sure the gutter is not full of water. If it is, wait until it drains before attempting to remove more debris from inside. This is important; if you pull out leaves while the gutter still has water in it, you can create a heavy rainstorm that could damage your roof or cause flooding in your home.

Do an Overall Inspection

After removing the leaves from within your gutters, take some time to look over them for any other problems physically. Leaves are not the only thing that can cause clogs in your gutters. Tree branches, debris, and even animals sometimes crawl inside to build their nest or live out their days. It’s best to look through them and clean out any unwelcome inhabitants, as well as fix up any loose or damaged pieces. If they seem to be in good shape, you can skip this step.

Look for and Fix Damaged Areas

If there is a lot of damage to your roof, it’s better to have the contractor come back before winter. Catching small problems before they become larger can prevent a lot of extra stress and cost in the coming months. Catching and fixing damage in the fall may also help reduce ice dams, which can decrease your heating costs in wintertime. This is especially important if you live in a climate that gets heavy snowfall.

Conclusion

There are a few more things to keep in mind when looking at ways to keep your gutters and roof clean during the fall. Ensure you hire a professional contractor experienced with this process and know what steps they can take to get your gutters and roof ready for winter. You can also clean your gutters yourself if you wish. This will involve a lot of work, but it may save you some money if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty.

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