Clean Your Gutters Before Winter

Before autumn gets even more brisk and transitions to winter, homeowners should make sure their gutters are cleaned and ready for ice and snow. Depending on the type, on average, gutters can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years. This is assuming regular cleanings are performed to keep the gutters in working order and maximize the life of your roof. If you have not had any roof maintenance recently, right before winter is an excellent time to get it done.

The National Center for Healthy Housing strongly suggests homeowners have their gutters cleaned out at least twice yearly. Unless you have had maintenance done recently, the debris from the fall months will probably accumulate quickly. With leaves and acorns falling throughout the season, gutters in northern Illinois homesteads face their largest clogs of the year by winter.

As any native midwestern resident knows, winter brings numerous snowstorms and many icing events. Clogged gutters will cause these typical winter storms to hit your home much harder. If your gutters are not prepared to divert water, ice and snow from the roof, ice dams could form and damage shingles. When you have a professional clean your gutters, they can check to see if the gutter system is working properly and make any necessary adjustments.

Also keep in mind that when spring rolls around heavy showers are frequent in the Chicago area. If your gutters were properly maintained for the winter, spring rains will be much less of a threat to your home. The investment of time and money right now will go a long way in keeping your roof free of problems for the next several months.