If you’ve heard of ice dams, you know how brutal winter weather can be on your gutters and roof. However, that’s not where the issues stop for your gutters. Fortunately, you can take steps to get your gutters ready for the season and prevent problems from occurring.
Clean Them Out at the End of Fall
As the leaves fall from the trees, many end up in your gutters. Come winter, those leaves may stop your gutters from draining properly whenever snow or ice is melting or the winter rain falls. The water may then back up and freeze, which causes ice dams that push water onto your roof or into your attic. When the leaves become wet and heavy, they may pull your gutters away from the house.
Besides removing leaves, flush the gutters and downspouts during the cleaning process. By doing so, you’ll remove dirt, small twigs, shingle grit and other debris that hand cleaning can’t reach. This process also acts as a test, letting you see any areas where water is backing up.
Evaluate Them for Damage
Before winter, inspect all aspects of your gutters. Check to see that the gutters and downspouts are securely attached. Heavy snow and ice could easily detach them if they’re loose already. Verify whether water is flowing properly. If you have any areas where water is pooling, that water can freeze and damage your roof. Any concerning spots will need to be corrected.
Inspect the gutters for any cracks, holes, rust or sagging. Under the weight of snow or ice, these issues could worsen. Examine where water exits. The downspout should direct water away from your home. If not, it could cause problems with the foundation or let water into your crawlspace or basement.
Add Attic Insulation or Seal Air Leaks
While warm air rises, an uninsulated attic loses heat through the roof, which melts any snow and ice. All that water will enter the gutters and possibly refreeze, leading to ice dams. The same happens when you have any cracks that allow air to escape.
Insulating your attic and sealing any leaks can prevent this from happening. The roof will remain at a more consistent temperature because heat will stay inside your home rather than escaping through openings or uninsulated sections of the attic.
Routine gutter maintenance before or during winter can prevent various issues that snow and ice can cause, such as ice dams. You can even protect your roof and foundation in the process.
Contact Pyramid Roofing, serving Richmond, VA and the nearby area, to receive more tips and see how we can assist you with gutter installation or routine care.
