DIY Tips For Cleaning Your Gutters

Phil's Main Roofing 

(203) 838-4545

www.philsmainroofing.com

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

By definition, a rain gutter is a narrow channel on your roof system that collects and diverts rainwater from the roof. The main purpose of this system is to protect your home or building's foundation by directing water away from its base. Further, gutters work to prevent leaks in basements or crawlspaces as they keep water flowing away from the home. Since gutters are an extremely important component of your roof, it's important to know how to take care of them to make sure they continue to work properly. Thanks to the DIY Network, below are a few tips you can use to clean your gutters:

• Use a ladder and clean out the gutters by hand. This includes removing any leaves, branches, or other debris that may have collected over time. 
• Check that all the spikes that are supposed to go through the gutter, through the fascia and into the rafter are in place. Many times these spikes tend to completely miss the rafters simply because they have been displaced over the years. If you notice this on your home, make an effort to get new gutter spikes since they help to keep your gutter attached to your home and working properly.
• Look for any leaks that may be coming from holes in the gutters or cracked caulking in the seams. With an old chisel, scrape out any old caulking, let the area dry out, and then recaulk to keep water from going behind the gutter.
• If your budget allows, invest in a pressure washer to thoroughly clean down gutters once all steps have been completed by hand.

For more tips on how to clean and repair your gutters, click here.

At Phil's Main Roofing, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide quality roofing services to both the commercial and residential sectors. We know how important it is to have an effective drainage system, which is why we offer services that can assist you with your gutters and downspouts. To prevent water from entering your home and to make sure water is being shed from your roof properly, contact us at (203) 838-4545 today!