The rainy season brings unique beauty and pleasant weather, but it also poses some significant challenges. As a homeowner, you must be well-prepared for this season. Otherwise, you have to face many severe problems and incur costly losses. One of the most important tasks that you should never overlook before this severe season is preparing your home’s gutters for the heavy rainfall.
Gutters are responsible for directing away all the rainwater from your home, preventing it from standing and seeping into the walls and foundations. If they are not ready to handle the heavy rainfall, you will have to face issues, such as water damage, flooding, and major structural damage.
To help you protect your home, here is a detailed explanation of how you can prepare your gutter for heavy rainfall.
1.Clean Out Debris
You must remove all the dirt, twigs, leaves, and other debris that may have accumulated in your home’s gutter. To perform this task, use a sturdy ladder, gloves, and a gutter scoop, or other specialized tools available.
Once you are done cleaning all the debris, the next step is to flush the gutters with a hose. This will further clean them by removing the remaining dirt or potential obstructions.
Moreover, you should check for clogs in downspouts. If found, clean them using the plumbing snake or other appropriate tool. This is essential to ensure safety and make the gutters ready for the coming rainfall season.
2.Ensure Proper Drainage
Make sure your home’s gutters have a slight downward slope towards the downspouts. This is essential to ensure the proper water flow without any obstruction. Otherwise, the water will damage the foundation of your property.
Moreover, you must ensure the rainwater is directed at least 5-6 feet away from your home. For this, you can use downspout extensions if needed.
3.Inspect Thoroughly
It is often the case that many minor damages to your home’s gutter go unnoticed for a long time. Later on, they escalate into major issues, leading to costly repairs and replacements. Therefore, it is recommended to inspect your gutters thoroughly before the rainy season. If you find any damage, fix it as soon as possible to ensure safety and prevent potential problems.
In case you are feeling overwhelmed by inspecting your gutters by yourself, seek help from professional gutter cleaning and repair services. Their experts are well-versed in identifying and addressing all the potential minor and major damages to your gutter. They can provide you with better assistance and guidance in this daunting task. Moreover, these professionals use advanced equipment and specialized methodologies to ensure the safety of your gutter.
4.Install Gutter Guards
Installing gutter guards helps prevent further debris buildup and reduces the need for frequent cleaning. However, many people think it is an additional expense, but this is not true if you consider the long-term benefits of this installation.
Gutter guards are of various types, each having unique features. You must select one of them that is designed for the climate and rainfall levels.