Why Gutter Maintenance Matters
Gutters play a crucial role in protecting your home from water damage by directing rainwater away from the foundation. However, to function effectively, gutters must remain free of debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt. Regular gutter cleaning is essential, but using additional tools like gutter strainers can significantly ease the maintenance process. Today, we'll explore the benefits of gutter strainers, their types, and additional tips for optimal gutter maintenance.
Gutter Strainers: A Preventative Measure
Gutter strainers are a form of clog prevention used by contractors and gutter installation professionals to stop debris from clogging the downspouts. These strainers act as a barrier, catching larger debris while allowing water to flow through. Although they do not eliminate the need for cleaning, they reduce the frequency and difficulty of the task. Gutter strainers are an affordable and effective solution for preventing clogs. They are widely available at hardware stores such as Home Depot or Ace Hardware for approximately $8. This small investment can save you from the much higher costs associated with professional clog removal services, which might involve a plumber utilizing a high-pressure snake hose or even unearthing underground pipes to remove blockages.
How Gutter Strainers Work
When installed at the top of the downspout, gutter strainers trap leaves, twigs, and other debris before they can enter and clog the downspout. This makes it easier to clean out the gutters since the debris is confined to the top rather than being dispersed throughout the gutter system. With a strainer in place, a simple gutter cleaning and removal of the strainer can clear minor clogs.
Potential Risks of Not Using Strainers
Neglecting to use gutter strainers can lead to severe blockages that require more invasive methods to clear. For instance, without a strainer, debris can travel further down the downspout, or even worse, underground drainage, necessitating the use of a high-pressure snake hose. While effective, using a snake hose can be risky, especially to the underground drainage system beneath your property's foundation. Improper use of a snake hose can damage the pipes, resulting in costly repairs.
Choosing the Right Strainer: Aluminum vs. Galvanized Iron
As an expert in gutter cleaning, I recommend opting for aluminum gutter strainers over their galvanized iron counterparts. Here’s why:
Durability: Aluminum strainers are rust-resistant and can last for many years without deteriorating. In contrast, galvanized iron strainers tend to rust within one to two years, becoming brittle and potentially causing blockages themselves.
Cost-Effectiveness: Although aluminum strainers cost about $2 more than galvanized iron strainers, their durability makes them a more cost-effective choice in the long run.
Performance: Both types of strainers perform equally in terms of preventing debris from clogging the downspouts. However, the longevity of aluminum makes it a superior choice.
In addition to aluminum strainers, there are also PVC variations, and if you're truly scrappy, you can even make your own! However, for convenience's sake, the aluminum variation is all you should need.
Additional Tips for Optimal Gutter Maintenance
For those with gutter systems leading to underground drainage, I strongly advise using strainers to prevent blockages. However, if you're an overly-cautious individual like myself, then here are some additional tips to ensure your gutter system remains efficient and clog-free:
Regular Cleaning: Even with strainers, it’s important to clean your gutters regularly. By checking on your gutter system quarterly or biannually, you'll be able to discern a proper gutter cleaning schedule depending on the rate of accumulation of debris or its timing dependent on the season.
Install Wall-Mounted Filters: For added protection, consider installing a wall-mounted gutter filter at the base of the downspout, positioned 1-3 feet off the ground. This may seem to be overkill for some homeowners to have two sets of assurance, however, both areas of the gutter system, the downspout, and the underground drainage, are extremely susceptible to clogs and are both equally vulnerable. Two barriers at these key entrance points will assure that you will be relaxing during the fall seasons and not in turmoil over any financial headaches.
Check for Damage: Regularly inspect your gutter's downspout for any signs of damage, such as cracks or loose brackets. Loose brackets can be bent back into shape with a flat-head screwdriver and a rubber mallet, pliers, (or a strong pair of hands), and then fastened with a form of commercial adhesive or nail. A new set of brackets can be purchased at your local hardware store and installed similarly around the downspout.
Professional Inspection: Consider scheduling a professional inspection at least once a year. A professional can identify potential issues that you may miss from angles that cannot be spotted from the ground and provide you with insight on damage or potential repair solutions for items such as cracks, loose joints, missing screws, or rotting fascia boards.
Benefits of Using Gutter Strainers
Reduced Maintenance: Gutter strainers reduce the frequency and difficulty of cleaning by trapping debris at the edges of the downspout's entrance, rather than inside it.
Prevent Costly Repairs: By preventing severe blockages, strainers reduce the risk of tedious clogs to your gutter downspout and underground drainage, saving you money on expensive call-out fees from plumbers or contractors.
Improved Efficiency: Strainers help maintain the long-term efficiency of your gutter system by ensuring that water flows freely through the downspouts despite any piled debris near the downspout's entrance.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your gutters are protected against clogs provides huge peace of mind. Although strainers aren't going to prevent 100% of clogs, in a similar vein of thinking, it's more financially savvy to have a spare tire and jack in the trunk of your vehicle than to have to pay a tow company and mechanic.
Maintaining clean and efficient gutters is crucial for protecting your home from water damage. By investing in gutter strainers and additional filters, you can prevent clogs and avoid costly repairs. Regular gutter cleaning, combined with the right preventative measures, will keep your gutters functioning properly and your home safe from water damage.
At Dave's Exterior Cleaning, one of the exterior cleaning services we provide is in gutters, gutter cleanings, and their maintenance. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help keep your gutters in top condition!
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