When it comes to winter home problems, gutter issues should be at the forefront of your mind. If they are not clear and operational, water and snowmelt could end up being sent into your home instead of away from it. Even the very structure of your home could be threatened in such a scenario. If you want to protect your home, you must perform maintenance to keep your gutters clear and functional.

Clean Out Your Gutters and Downspouts

The number one tip for protecting your home during the winter is to clean out your gutters and downspouts. If this isn’t done, you can expect problems. Instead, ensure that all your gutter troughs are free of leaves, dirt, gunk, and other debris. Do the same for your downspouts. Even if you are forced to scoop the gunk out by hand, that will certainly be a better choice than leaving them clogged. You might actually want to take extra steps by removing rust with rust remover or a scouring pad. The effort will be worth it.

Test the Functionality of Your Gutters and Downspouts

You shouldn’t stop with simply cleaning out your gutters and downspouts. You need to test to see if they are fully functional as well. You can’t actually know until you perform a test. For all you know, there could be an obstruction or leak hidden somewhere that could cause a serious problem when water makes its way down your gutters and downspouts. Using a hose or simply dumping water from a bucket into your gutters should do the job of performing this test. If the water quickly travels down the downspouts and away from your home, you are in good shape.

Guard Against Ice Dams

Your maintenance should also continue after you have cleaned your gutters and downspouts and performed a successful test. One thing that could still cause serious issues is the development of ice dams over your gutters. An ice dam occurs when snowmelt refreezes on the edge of a roof. This ice dam could then prevent the natural flow of water through your gutter and downspout system and away from your home. To guard against ice dams, take steps such as:

• Cleaning snow from your roof with a roof rake from the ground only
• Ensuring your attic is well insulated
• Ensuring your attic is well ventilated
• Having a roofer install ice shields if deemed necessary
• Properly maintaining your gutters

Have your gutters inspected annually by a professional. This is not a step you can afford to skip in gutter maintenance because someone with proper training and experience can find and fix small problems before they grow into something major. They can also make sure everything is clean and in top shape. If you live in or near Nashville, TN, and require gutter services, call Don Kennedy Roofing for the job.