If you start compiling a list of whatever is most important for your home, chances are you will drop the gutters. Believe the word of professionals, you will never be more wrong. Though often discounted, gutters’ role in your home’s defense against water damage is irreplaceable. A healthy gutter is your only protection. A gutter is considered healthy when it is properly maintained. There is no other way to ensure the permanency of your home’s structural integrity.
In so many words, gutter channels rainwater away from your home’s choke points, like foundation, roof, walls, and siding. Without gutter maintenance, gutters won’t do their job properly and you will surely see water damage and deterioration of your structures.
This brief article will help you make a sense of what your gutters are, how they function, what their role is in your home’s defense, and how you can keep them optimally maintained. Read on.
Why Are Gutters Important For Your Home?
You must have known that gutters play an important role in your home, by now. Let’s see what they do exactly.
- They capture rainwater and melting snow from your roof and channel it safely away from your home.
- They protect your home’s foundation by making sure water stays away from it.
- They protect your roof and siding by removing excess water that may cause leaks and general deterioration.
- They play a part in stopping soil erosion around your house.
- They make sure water isn’t pooled anywhere and thus minimize pest infestations.
We can safely conclude that gutters are your home’s defense system without which water damage prevention is impossible.
Different Kinds of Gutters
All gutters are not similar. You will find the following variations in them.
K-Style Gutters
K-style gutters have a flat bottom and a curved edge. You can get high water handling capacity with them. They are easier to install and can be customized too. If you want gutters to “blend in”, these are your best option. They can easily match your home’s modern aesthetic.
Half-Round Gutters
Most homeowners go with half-round gutters, you must have seen them around. They have a round design which makes water flow smoothly. You will also have to clean them less frequently due to minimum debris accumulation in them.
Box Gutters
You will find very few box gutters installed in homes. They are usually built along the structure and are boxed in shape.
Common Gutter Materials
Aluminum, copper, steel, and vinyl are the most common materials used in gutters. The table below will help you differentiate them more easily.
| Material | Unique Features | Pros | Cons | Lifespan |
| Aluminum | Lightweight, Rust Resistant, Various Colors Available | Cheap, Easier Installation, Requires Low Maintenance | Prone to Dents | Prone to Dents |
| Copper | Durable, Looks Cool | Long life, Requires Low Maintenance | Expensive, Not Easy to Install | More than 50 Years |
| Stainless Steel | Superior Corrosion Resistance, Sleek, Looks Modern | Durable, Minimum Maintenance | Expensive than other Steel | 40 Years or More |
| Galvanized Steel | Strong, Rust Resistance Coated | Affordable, Stronger | Heavy, Can get Rusty if Coating is Removed | 15-20 Years |
| Vinyl | Very Light | Cheap and can be DIYed | Can’t Withstand Temperature Extremes, Short Life, Brittles | 10-12 Years |
Common Gutter Issues
Being heavy lifters, gutters are bound to develop problems. However, their frequency and intensity increase if you don’t invest in periodic gutter maintenance. Some of the issues you are most likely to face are listed below.
Clogged Gutters: Whenever there is debris accumulation in your gutters, they will clog and water flow will be blocked. Water overflows and some damage is also possible.
Sagging Gutters: Also called detachment, gutters sag when the weight of debris or standing water is too much for them. So, they start pulling away from the roof.
Leaking Gutters: Leaks are very common. Mostly around joints, seams, or other vulnerable spots.
Rust: Since there is too much interaction with water, gutters can develop rust spots. It increases rapidly if not treated at the earliest.
Blocked Downspouts: The most common symptoms of this issue are the backflow of water and the pooling of water near your foundations.
With routine maintenance, all of these issues can be tracked before they create bigger problems for your home’s safety. Reliable gutter repair is to follow ASAP.
How to Do Gutter Maintenance?
As a rule of thumb, you can solve 80% of your gutter’s issues with regular maintenance. Follow the following routine to make sure your gutters are maintained all year.
Seasonal Schedule
Your gutter maintenance schedule will depend upon the climate of your area. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what you need to do to ensure your gutter’s functionality in every season.
Spring: You have to clear the accumulated debris of the previous winter season. Don’t leave any dried leaves or twigs in your gutters. You may also find some traces of ice. Do a thorough inspection for any damage done by winter storms. Make sure there are no cracks or rust, and all brackets are secured. Lastly, check your downspout and test its alignment.
Summer: Perform a similar inspection for the summer season. Recheck and secure everything from fasteners to gutter guards. Cleaning needs are usually light.
Fall: This season brings lots of leaves and foliage. They can cause clogs, so, clear them out. If you have trees nearby, make sure they are trimmed and are not overhanging. Prepare for winter and look for any vulnerabilities.
Winter: Make sure there are no ice dams in your gutter system. Don’t let too much accumulation of snow, keep clearing it out. Invest in a good insulation system to prevent water from freezing inside your gutters. You can also install heating cables.
Install Gutter Guards
Invest in good quality gutter guards. They will prevent debris from entering your gutters and you will need to clean them less often (by at least 50%). Micro-mesh gutter guards are some of the most efficient ones.
Perform Regular Inspections
Two inspections a year, in spring and fall, are a must for your gutters. If your area is experiencing abnormal weather conditions, or you have more debris accumulation, have your gutter inspected more often.
Go for Professional Gutter Services
You can clean your gutters yourself. But being an amateur, you can never beat the expertise of a professional gutter service. Yes, you will save some money by doing it yourself. On the downside, you are risking your safety, are spending too much of your time, and can’t reliably detect every gutter problem or repair every issue along the way.
Gutter maintenance is not a luxury, it is paramount for your home. Gutters require investment in both time and money, but in the face of the benefits they are offering, this investment is a very small one. So, keep your gutters maintained, use only good quality materials, hire a professional gutter protection service, and ensure your home’s integrity for decades to come.
