Guttering Maintenance

Guttering is an essential part of any home. The pipes are what carry water safely away from your roof and down to the drain, therefore avoiding any water damage to the bricks and mortar of your outside wall. If you are responsible for taking care of the guttering in your home then there are a few essential maintenance activities you will have to take care of.

Removing Blockages

The main problem occurring in any type of guttering is that they can become blocked, usually with leaves and any other kind of debris that comes off your roof or blows in the wind. It may also be the case that weeds start to grow in your guttering, which will also block them further. Blockages, when building up, can end up causing serious problems for your home as they redirect the flow of water which in turn damages your building.

Clearing the pipes of your gutter should be done around once a year. This is not a hard job, and is more of a preventative measure before things get really bad. If you choose to ignore this yearly task then you may find that you are facing more serious problems down the line.

The best way to remove debris and old leaves from your gutter is around the beginning of winter. This is due to the fact that the most leaves will enter your gutter during autumn. It is also extremely important to do it at this time since there is a chance of high rainfall throughout the UK in the winter months.

How to Clear the Gutter

The best way to clear a gutter is to climb up a ladder and have a look at how badly they are blocked. You will usually be able to get rid of any leaves and debris using a trowel. However, you can also hire someone to clear your gutter for you if you cannot easily access them.

If the blockage occurs in the downspout then you probably won’t be able to see it, making clearing the gutter a lot more difficult. Many people use the preventative measure of rolled up chicken wire to prevent debris from entering the downspout in the first place. However, if you do so you will need to remove it and clear it several times a year.

If your downspout is already blocked then simply make use of a downspout rod to push any debris out of the bottom of the pipe. These should be available at many DIY stores.

Conclusion

As you can see, clearing your guttering is not normally a difficult task. However, if other problems occur then it is a good idea to hire a professional who can fix the source before it causes any problems for your home. As long as you check your guttering regularly you should be able to detect any potential problems before they cause any disruption.