Off-Season Gutter Care: What to Do When it’s Dry

 

Our gutters work year-round to protect our homes from drainage issues. In winter, spring, summer, and fall, gutters collect, drain, and divert water from the foundation. Each season brings severe weather: heavy snow in the winter, the rainy season lasting from late spring to summer, severe thunderstorms in the summer, and wet, windy autumns. 

 

Lynchburg has higher-than-average precipitation totals annually compared to other parts of the country, so our gutters work even harder to protect our homes. Cleaning our gutters helps to prevent clogs so water can flow through the system freely and quickly. Ideally, you clean your gutters at least twice annually, in late spring and fall. 

 

Why should you clean your gutters in late spring, after a dry first part of the year? Keep reading to learn all about off-season gutter care and what to do when it’s dry so your gutter system can perform well year-round.

 

Deep Clean Your Gutters

Like nearly every home component, gutter systems need routine maintenance. Cleaning your gutters helps reduce blockages that create clogs and helps keep water moving freely through the gutters quickly. Giving your gutters a deep clean at least two times per year is ideal (more if your roofline is surrounded by trees), and the off-season is the best time of year to get them clean.

 

Deep cleaning your gutters when it’s dry allows you to get more debris out since scooping dry pine needles, leaves, and silt is much easier versus when it’s wet. Gutter cleaning in the off-season can also keep you safer since a ladder is involved; drier weather means no slick spots on the walkways or wet, slippery grass below the ladder that could increase the risk of falls.

 

So, how can you deep clean your gutters? Though it seems easy, it’s very time-consuming and dangerous since using a ladder and frequently climbing up and down one while holding supplies is required. If you feel comfortable, gather the following supplies:

 

 

• A tall ladder that reaches the gutters

• Bucket

• Scoop

• Garden hose

• Plumber’s snake (optional)

 

You’ll want to carefully remove debris and put it inside the bucket, then flush out the gutters to remove any remaining debris. For an in-depth guide, take a look at our ultimate guide for cleaning gutters!

 

Again, DIY gutter cleaning can be dangerous. If you don’t feel comfortable using a tall ladder, ask a friend or family member for help. If you want a professional deep clean, contact us at Home Evolutions VA. Our gutter cleaning service will get your gutters sparkling clean and free from debris and get them ready for the upcoming wet months. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning service keeps you safe and saves you precious time.

 

Check for Damage

While cleaning your gutters, check for damage. The dry season is a great time of year to check for cracks, holes, dents, corrosion, and gaps between sections. It’s easier to spot these issues when the gutter system is dry versus when it’s actively collecting and draining water.

 

Next time you’re deep cleaning your gutters look for these issues. If you’re unsure or don’t feel comfortable, a gutter repair service can inspect your gutters and spot damage that may not be visible to anyone other than a professional. If you do spot damage, get it repaired or replaced immediately to avoid further damage or costly repairs.

 

At Home Evolutions VA, we offer a gutter repair service, repairing small and big issues with any gutter system. If your gutter needs repairing, we’ll fix it on the spot. If it needs replacing, we’ll offer suggestions for replacing your gutter system.

 

Trim Trees Near the Roofline

Another great way to care for your gutters during the off-season is to time the trees near the roofline. Trees that sit close to the roof often have debris like leaves, twigs, and pine needles that inevitably find their way inside half-round gutters without gutter guards. Trimming the trees before the rainy season ramps up is a great way to reduce the amount of debris that can clog your gutters.

Trimming large trees around your roofline is dangerous, so leave it to the professionals. A tree care company or an arborist can trim your trees without compromising the tree’s health.

 

Install Gutter Guards or Seamless Gutters

With the rainy season around the corner, the off-season is the perfect time to replace your old gutters with a new seamless gutter system. Installing gutter guards in addition to seamless gutters can help keep debris out, eliminating clogs. At K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop, we can install seamless gutters with guards or the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System.

 

Our seamless gutters are made from heavy-duty aluminum that will withstand severe weather and last many years while providing exceptional protection against drainage issues. We can install them with our Xtreme Mesh Gutter Guard, a stainless steel mesh guard placed directly on your gutters. It blocks debris from entering the system, keeping the inside of the gutter clean.

 

K-Guard is a complete system with multiple components that work together to keep debris like leaves and pine needles out so water can flush through the system quickly. With its innovative curved hood and seamless design, K-Guard prevents all debris from entering the gutters, ensuring no clogs can form. The result? No debris enters the system which allows water to flow freely, eliminating clogs. You’ll never need to clean your gutters again!

We’ve been installing and repairing gutter systems for decades with thousands of happy customers in Lynchburg and surrounding areas. We can help with all your home improvement needs, whether you need help with an insurance claim or a quote for installing a new roof or gutter system. We’re here to help every step of the way throughout the entire process. Contact us today for a free estimate!