The best times of year to clean your gutters (or have them cleaned by a professional) are at the beginning of fall and the beginning of spring.
One common question that many homeowners have regarding their rain gutters is when to clean them. Gutters need to be cleaned because they can become clogged with fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris.
When debris gets stuck in the gutter, it causes excess rain water to overflow onto your home and into your yard. These can lead to costly repairs, including possible mold and mildew damage as well as potential foundation issues. Instead of having to pay a foundation repair crew to fix your house, clean out your gutters before fall and spring start (while it’s cheap and relatively easy).
Timing is Everything
At the beginning of fall, fallen leaves will be dry and crispy, making them easy to remove before they turn soggy and frozen in winter. Added water content mixed with the debris in your gutters can make your gutters very heavy, very fast if they freeze. If your gutters don’t break in half, they could burst or rupture.
Clearing out gutters in early spring makes way for any spring rainfall to be properly drained, preventing clogs that can lead to gutter sagging and other damages. If twigs and leaves are left in the gutter, they could dam up the structure and cause water to overflow into your home and foundation.
You can do gutter maintenance in summer and winter. However, dealing with the extreme hot and cold that Texas seasons can bring will make you miserable. On top of dealing with your own physical comfort, you could be putting yourself at risk for overheating or, in more extreme cases, frostbite in the hands.
Rain Gutter Leaf Guards
If this process sounds awful, you could choose another option: rain gutter leaf guards. These are metal screen covers that are placed over the top of your rain gutters, allowing water to drain but keeping debris out. You’ll save money, time, and trouble on gutter cleaning. This is an easy solution to a near-constant problem for homeowners.
Even with these leaf guards, it’s still recommended to do a full sweep of the gutters. Removing the guards can range in difficulty, but can also cut down significantly on the amount of debris you have to clear out.
Overall, you can extend the life of your home’s rain gutters by taking proper care of them, whether that means cleaning them out at the appropriate time or taking preventative measures like investing in a leaf guard.