Damaged gutters are much more likely not to work properly, resulting in water damage to your home and foundation. This is why it’s essential to ensure your gutters are in peak condition all year round, giving them the strength and fortification they need to weather the blizzards and heat waves.
Here are eight maintenance tips to teach you how to prevent gutter damage from occurring in the first place.
The number one thing you need to do to maintain healthy, strong gutters is to clean them! Gutters can easily get clogged by leaves and other debris collecting in the troughs, and these clogs will impede water flow and result in gutter damage, such as sagging gutters, rust, and pest infestations.
How often you should clean your gutters depends on where you live, what types of foliage you have around your property (especially over the top of your gutters), and what type of gutters you have. In general, gutters without guards should be cleaned twice a year. In Arkansas, you should clean your gutters in March or April to prepare for our rainiest season, followed by a nice fall cleaning in preparation for winter storms.
K-Guard Leaf-free Gutter Systems are designed to remain clog-free at all times! These incredible gutter systems are guaranteed to remain maintenance-free, so you never have to worry about cleaning out clogs. If your K-Guard gutters somehow do clog, your local K-Guard technician will take care of the problem at absolutely no cost to you.
You might consider installing gutter guards to reduce how often you need to clean your gutters. These extra layers of protection on top of your gutters are designed to keep leaves and pests out while letting water flow into the troughs unimpeded.
However, it’s important to be careful when selecting guards for your gutters. Certain options may only exacerbate the issue if they lie too flat and allow leaves to simply pile up on top of the guard.
K-Guard gutters come with high-quality gutter protection included! These curved gutter guards use principles of water flow to guide water down into the gutter trough while sending leaves and debris away.
Exterior decor can be lovely, but be sure you’re installing it correctly to avoid damaging your gutters! Anything that is made to hang from gutters should be lightweight and able to be installed without screwing or hammering anything directly onto the gutters. Christmas lights, for example, can be safely hung using gutter clips.
K-Guard gutters are as sturdy as they come. Built to withstand vertical loads on the front of the gutter up to 70 lbs per installed hanger, you could almost hang from your oversized K-style gutters without a worry (but please don’t try it). The protective hood that acts as a built-in gutter guard can withstand 60 lbs of pressure per square foot without flexing.
Giving your gutters a cursory inspection every few months will make it easier for you to catch overflowing issues and stop gutter damage from occurring. All you need to do is take a quick stroll around the perimeter of your home, checking your gutters for signs of water damage or wear and tear that needs to be addressed.
This may appear as missing hardware, gutters pulling away from your home, sagging gutters, water stains, or rust. You might also see signs of water damage on fascia boards that indicate clogged, overflowing gutters.
You should also have your gutters inspected by a professional once or twice a year. This can be in tandem with professional cleaning, keeping you safe on the ground and away from the dangers of your roof!
While it never hurts to inspect your K-Guard gutters for signs of damage or clogging, these casual inspections will be a lot faster and need not be so frequent. You are under no obligation to inspect or clean your K-Guard gutters because a leaf-free, maintenance-free warranty protects them!
Icicles forming on gutters can cause a lot of damage. These icy daggers can build up to tremendous amounts of weight, causing gutters to bow and sag. If you’re struggling to keep icicles or ice dams at bay, ensure your attic insulation and ventilation are performing well and make any necessary repairs. You could also consider installing electrical heating tape to your eaves and gutters to keep ice from forming.
Did you know one of the leading causes of icicles on gutters is clogging? This is because clogged gutters slow or stop the flow of water, giving it time to pool on gutters and drip over the sides, eventually creating icicles in the right temperature conditions. This is another reason why K-Guard is the way to go for preventing gutter damage — again, it’s all about that clog-free design!
If you have large trees and other foliage overhanging your gutters, it’s good to keep those trimmed back to reduce the amount of leaves and debris falling on your roof. Once the foliage is at its peak growth (usually summertime or just before fall arrives), it’s the perfect time to trim up any extra growth.
Thanks to the hooded design of K-Guard gutters, you don’t need to worry too much about trees close to your roofline (at least, not in terms of gutter clogging). It never hurts to keep your foliage well-pruned, though!
Even the most well-maintained gutters won’t last forever. If you’ve begun noticing signs of gutter damage beyond easy maintenance and repairs, it may be time to replace your gutters. When that time comes, why not invest in a high-quality gutter system that will give you a maintenance-free experience for years to come?
Contact Hanke Brothers to learn more about our gutter installation services and the difference K-Guard can make for your home.
All Rights Reserved | Hanke Brothers | Web Design by Flypaper | Privacy Policy