How can I protect against clogged gutters?
Fall is the season of falling dead leaves, many of which will get into your gutters and prevent them from functioning properly. If you have a tree on your property, especially one close to your house, then the problem can be much worse. When leaves clog your gutters, then rainwater that is supposed to flow off your roof, through the gutter and out the downspout cannot drain properly. The excess water can spill down the side of your home, and when this water pools near your foundation, it can lead to cracks and settling. Excess water in your gutters can also flow into the fascia or siding, rotting the wood and getting inside your home, where it can cause water damage like mold and mildew. Excess water in your gutters can cause them to sag or even break in certain conditions. But how can I prevent my gutters from being clogged by leaves and other debris?
Why Leaf Guards are a Great Solution to Your Clogged Gutters Problem
The best solution to a clogged gutter problem is to have leaf guards, also known as gutter guards installed. Gutter guards are a barrier placed on your gutters, typically mesh or perforated, that allows water to flow freely through the gutter and to the downspout, but protects against leaves, twigs and other debris from getting in and clogging the gutters. While getting up on a ladder and removing the leaves yourself will also work, it is a short term solution. Removing the leaves is a temporary solution, and with time, the leaves will clog up the gutters again, and you will have to get back on the ladder and remove the leaves by hand again. Leaf guards address the root cause of the issue, and will prevent the need for constant leaf removal in the future by keeping the leaves from getting in in the first place.
How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?
The cost of gutter guards is variable, however the best way to determine the price of gutter guards is to have one of our licensed technicians come out for a free inspection. During these inspections, our technicians can inspect your property, taking measurements and figuring out exactly how much gutter guards are needed for your home. During these inspections, our technicians can also figure out what the installation process will be like, and how long the installation will take, all of which will play into the cost of getting gutter guards for your home.
When you don’t have gutter guards, you might need to pay to have a professional clean your gutters twice a year or even more frequently, depending on how many trees are near your house. Paying for a gutter guard installation from Summit Environmental Solutions will save you money in the long term, as your gutters will be clear and not require cleaning every few months.
Other Benefits of Gutter Guards
Pests like mosquitoes are attracted to standing water, the exact kind that gets trapped inside a gutter by large amounts of leaves blocking flow. A clogged gutter then might lead to a mosquito infestation on your property, biting you every time you spend time in your yard. Gutter guards can eliminate the blockages that cause standing water, making your home less attractive to mosquitoes.
Rodents like rats, mice and squirrels will sometimes try to make their nests inside your gutter, especially if there are already leaves and twigs there. Your gutters can also provide easy access to your soffit, which these rodents can chew through to your attic. Gutter guards prevent and deter rodents from nesting inside your gutter.
During wildfires, the embers that come off the fire can travel great distances. Oftentimes, these embers can drift right into a clogged gutter, and ignite the highly flammable leaves and twigs inside, causing a house fire. Gutter guards can prevent the buildup of leaves and twigs, protecting your home from a fire caused by a stray ember.
The leaves and debris accumulated in a clogged gutter can prevent melting snow on a roof, typically melted by the heat coming from the house, from flowing through the gutter and out the downspout during winter, which can lead to ice dams. Ice dams form as the water refreezes underneath the shingles. Ice dams can be catastrophic, as the water refreezing underneath your shingles can warp and deform them, as well as leak water into your home, causing damage to your insulation, ceiling, and walls. Gutter guards can eliminate this gutter debris, making ice dams less likely.
The standing water in your gutter can also lead to rust forming, which can lead to eventual corrosion. Gutter guards can prevent this rust and corrosion, extending the lifetime of your gutter.
Best Gutter Guard Service in Virginia Beach
Gutter guards prevent leaves, twigs, and other debris from accumulating in your gutter and blocking the proper flow of water through the gutter and out the downspout. Gutter guards can also aid in the prevention of ice dams, house fires caused by stray embers, rust, corrosion, and pests like mosquitoes and rodents.
There are multiple different types of gutter guards, and an inspection by a technician can help you choose the right gutter guards for your specific situation. Gutter guards can be installed with a new gutter system, or over an existing gutter system. While gutter guards can be installed without professional help, this can result in improperly installed guards which can lower their effectiveness and cause more issues down the line. If you need gutter guards installed in the Virginia Beach area, contact Summit Environmental Solutions today at https://www.summitenvironmentalsolutions.com/roofs/leaf-solution