The Best Ways to Prevent Clogged Rain Gutters

January 01, 2018

Clogging is one of the main reasons people have a rain gutter specialist come to their home. When we talk about finding the "perfect home," most families look for similar things: a peaceful place typically surrounded by trees. Whether maple or palm trees, living around any type of tree adds great aesthetic value to your home. Unfortunately, having trees near your property can make any gutter—including custom rain gutters—vulnerable to clogging. It really doesn't matter where you live, a clogged rain gutter will create a problem for you and your home sooner or later. Every day, trees shed leaves, which easily find their way into your rain gutters. Some leaves will settle on your roof, and from there, they will fall into your rain gutters and downspouts.

Clogging is even more troublesome for houses that have flat roofs. Did you know that leaves will not only clog downspouts, but they also can cause serious water damage to your roof, fascia, and ultimately, your floor? And that's not all: leaves and twigs that stay wet for a long time become difficult to blow out, turning your rain gutters into the perfect place for pests, mold, and birds to build their homes. The weight from the water and leaves leads to rain gutter sagging, and it prevents the gutter from doing its job. That will cause your rain gutters to start overflowing, which ultimately leads to water seeping into the roofing structure or the building's foundation.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why gutter clogging can be a big problem for you and your home. We want to help you keep your rain gutters clean, and if something happens, we will help you with our superior rain gutter repair services. Here are some great tips on how to prevent your rain gutters from clogging:

Perform Regular Maintenance on Your Gutters

Well maintained rain gutters won't clog in the first place—it's as simple as that. We highly recommend that you clean your rain gutters at least two times a year, but if you have a lot of trees around your house, you might want to clean your rain gutters even more frequently. We also recommend that you do the cleaning in the fall to prepare for the rainy season. Don't ignore your rain gutters! When clogged rain gutters overflow, they can cause huge damage to the roof, forcing water inside your house. It may be necessary to clean them more than twice, depending on the age and condition they are in.

Cleaning your rain gutters is necessary, no matter what. Remember to always hire professionals to get the job done. Why? Experienced and trained professionals can make a big difference when it comes to cleaning your rain gutters. There is no need to risk your property by trying to do a gutter cleaning by yourself. Even more importantly, you don't need to put yourself at risk doing it. Think about your safety and what is best for your home—hire professionals.

Install Leaf Guards on Your Rain Gutters

Maybe you have heard that leaf guards are ineffective and are a waste of money. That is not true at all.

Of course, there are different types of leaf guards and their effectiveness varies, which can depend on if you have custom rain gutters and what types of leaf guards work best for your home. Foam and brush types are less effective. Why? They catch and retain organic debris, and this will turn your rain gutters into a moss garden. Sounds dangerous, doesn't it?

As a homeowner, the main point of installing leaf guards is to prevent your gutters from getting clogged. Screen and mesh guards will act as a filter that lets water inside the gutters, allowing debris to drain away. The only thing you need to know is which type best benefits your property's roof, taking into account how much rain your home is exposed to. Remember, hiring professionals is always your best option!

Trim the Trees Away from the Edge of Your Roof

This is one of the most common reasons why rain gutters get clogged. During the rainy season, it is common for heavy winds to blow leaves into your rain gutters if there are trees close to your roof. That is why you need to trim them away and prevent this from happening. If you don't, you will have to deal with several problems in the future, and you likely will be spending a lot of money if your gutters start to sag.

Consequences of Clogged Rain Gutters

• As you may know, clogged gutters can cause a lot of problems. If your gutters are clogged, water will overflow, and as a consequence, water will pool around the foundation of your home, causing you to spend money on expensive home repairs. If your home has a wood foundation, the consequences can be even worse. Do not put your home at risk!

• Also, if water sits around in your gutters, you are creating the perfect environment for mold growth. This is not healthy at all for your family, especially for people who suffer from breathing problems.

• Gutters that are not well maintained will clog, which creates moisture inside the gutters that attracts bugs—inevitably causing infestations. Get your rain gutters cleaned, no matter what!

We hope these tips were useful. It's important for your home and family to take care of your rain gutters! If not, prepare for the consequences.

If you want to keep your house in perfect condition, taking care of your rain gutters is crucial. Rain Gutters Solution can help! We have more than 20 years of experience installing and repairing standard and custom rain gutters in Miami-Dade County. Contact us by calling (305) 270-7779 or by filling out our contact form. Find us on Facebook at Rain Gutters Solution, Twitter @RainGuttersSolution and Instagram @GuttersSolution. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our services and latest promotions.