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Importance of Maintaining Clean Gutters

 

Proper maintenance and cleaning of your home’s gutters and downspouts is about more than simply keeping the exterior of your home looking nice. When gutters are clogged they back up and overflow both the front and back lip of the gutter along the entire length of  the house. Water overflowing the backside of the gutter runs down the fascia and surface tension can even make the water flow back under the eave making a perfect environment for rot and mildew. Water overflowing the front of the gutter plummets down hammering the ground underneath damaging lawns and flowerbeds and puts increased hydrostatic pressure on the foundation wall possibly causing cracks to flood the basement.

Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned and checked for signs of necessary repairs at least twice a year. Typically, the best times to do this are late spring and late fall.

 

 

Cleaning of the gutters

 

The safest way to clean gutters is to do it with your feet firmly planted on the ground and thats how Anderqual Handyman does it. Using a pressure washer with a extension wand we are able to blast dirt and debris out of the gutters and downspouts leaving them perfectly clear to direct water away from your house. A visual inspection assures that all debris has been removed followed by a exterior washing of the gutters cleaning any splash out and black streaks caused by  asphalt shingles.

 

 

Gutter Guards

 

Here is a Ezine Article on Gutter Guards:

 

Gutter Guards - The Dirty Facts Uncovered
By Terry Edwards

 

Gutter guards are meant to aid in keeping leaves and other debris from settling within your rain gutters. Unfortunately, not all of these guards are created equally. What this means is that you have to do your due diligence and research when deciding what brand of a gutter guard to buy, since there are many on the market. Here are some helpful tips.

One of the first questions many homeowners have is, do these rain gutter protectors really even work? It's a good question, and the answer is yes they do, but to an extent. Gutter guards do aid in preventing a build up of leaves and other debris within your rain gutters and downspouts, but they are not 100% foolproof. Smaller items will often still find their way into the gutter channel and eventually need cleaning out. Of course, by using a guard you can substantially reduce the clogging of bigger items that you would eventually have to remove manually if you didn't have one at all. It will also reduce the times you will need gutter cleaning as well.

You'll find that each company that offers these protectors for your gutters all have a variation to the invention. Most will have small holes or slits. Even though the designs may vary, the ultimate goal remains the same which is to protect your gutter from a build up of debris and leaves.

Cleaning rain gutters can be a pain to say the least, especially in the summer time, which is why these items have become such a hot commodity. Anything that decreases the amount of clean up needed when cleaning your gutters is a welcomed invention in my books. It goes without saying that anytime you are cleaning the gutters, you need to be very careful when climbing ladders and when you're actually on the roof. The gutter guards were created to limit having to head on top the roof to do this arduous task.

We all know the hype surrounding these items. The advertisements all tout that you will never have to clean your gutters again, etc. Even though this may not be the case, it does give you the advantage of having less work in the long run. When deciding if these are right for you, take the time to analyze the overall costs, get the facts about their effectiveness, and do thorough research on the company providing the gutter guards. After doing your research and analyzing the cost, you can then make an informed decision.

 

You can find out more about Gutter Guards as well as much more information on all types of rain gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com.

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Edwards

 

Anderqual is here to help

 

If you decide a gutter guard system is right for you or if you would rather go with a regular cleaning maintenance schedule Anderqual Handyman can get it done right for less money.

Give us a call (847)756-3808 or Email us today for your free Gutter Cleaning Estimate!