“HOW DO YOU CLEAN GUTTERS IN WINTER?”

Clean gutters in the winter: Since we clean gutters when the temperatures are above freezing, we typically suggest that cleanings occur during spring and fall. In regions where freezing does not happen, cleaning gutters in winter is not usually an issue.

If you live in a cold-weather climate within the U.S., such as the midwest, fall quickly turns into deep winter. For many of us, that means more time spent at home, cozied up with a hot cup of coffee, while avoiding the crisp winter air.

If you missed cleaning gutters in the fall, you might have an issue going into winter. These issues are not always evident in the winter because your gutter is frozen, but during the first thaw, they’ll show. The excess debris in your gutters will create an icy mess within your gutter system.

Winter gutter maintenance is just as critical as any other season. What makes the winter period worth discussing is the level of safety involved. To learn more about clean gutters in the winter, please continue reading.

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SAFELY CLEANING YOUR GUTTERS DURING WINTER

If you are the type of DIY homeowner, and you’ve taken on the responsibility to clean gutters in the winter yourself, that’s great. We applaud hard-working Americans who want to dive in and work on cleaning and maintaining their gutters themselves. With that being said, DIY gutter cleaning is dangerous, especially in the winter. The key to gutter safety is to stay off the ladder and get professional help. However, if you plan to clean your gutters yourself this winter, please be aware of the following dangers, and note our recommended safety procedures:

  • Remember that when you clean your gutters during the year, you’re likely picking out leaves, debris, and other matter with your hands. Although these leaves may be wet from rain, they are not frozen like snow and ice. Use a scooping device to fetch the ice and snow out of the gutters rather than your hand. Using your hand to retrieve snow leads to losing feeling in your fingers, which could make working on a ladder, or being on the roof more dangerous. And of slightly more minor concern, that type of exposure to snow and ice could lead to getting a cut on your hand if you are not careful.
  • Furthermore, bring another object to chip any icicles off the rain gutter while you’re up there. Your tool doesn’t have to be anything too special, just a device like a small hand shovel will do. And remember, you don’t want to use your hands, even with gloves, to remove snow, ice, and icicles.
  • With ice and snow in your gutters, you are likely dealing with it on the ground. Always use a ladder when attending to your gutters, and during winter, make sure to wear rubber-soled shoes to limit any slipping or sliding.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU CLEAN GUTTERS IN THE WINTER

If you follow the safety protocols outlined above, you can feel a little better about the position you’re putting yourself in to clean your gutters during winter. Once you’re up there, make sure to inspect each of the following:

  • First, check for any apparent damage. Whether it’s a hole in the gutter, rotting, or a clog, make sure the damage gets noted and addressed immediately. This check should include cleaning gutters.
  • Then, check to see if any water is pooling. You don’t want any pooling water in the gutter system because that means it is compromised. After all, gutters are supposed to make water flow out of the gutter system. 
  • Third, check to see if there is any seepage. Inspect all gaps and seams between the gutter and the fascia to see if water leaks.
  • Once you’ve had a chance to audit all of these aspects of your rain gutters, it’s time to decide how you want to address any issues and if you need to clean gutters in the winter.
  • Also, large trees can potentially damage your property during ice storms or high winds since the large branches or the tree itself can collapse over your house. Look to a professional to maintain and to plant trees that best suit your property. We highly recommend JoJacs Landscape and Mowing in the Wichita and surrounding areas.

GUTTER KING WICHITA: A TRUSTED FULL-SERVICE GUTTER COMPANY

how do you clean gutters in the winter gutter king wichita

What Can We Do in Freezing Temperatures?

  • Fascia and fascia wrap 
  • Gutter & guard installations 

What Can We NOT Do in Freezing Temperatures?

  • Cleaning gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters)
  • Gutter guards on existing gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters, which we do before installing guards)
  • Repairing or resealing existing gutters

If, after you’ve identified all of the issues with your rain gutters, you’re concerned about fixing the problems yourself, call Gutter King Wichita at 316-680-6708 and we can clean gutters in the winter. We are a local full-service rain gutter company, who has worked on more gutter systems during winter than we can remember.

If the issue feels complicated, like one of your gutters has an ice dam, we would strongly you to give us a call. During the most challenging season, a complex issue with cleaning a gutter is a recipe for disaster, and Gutter King Wichita has insured professionals ready for urgent maintenance requests. 

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Call us to learn more about our seamless guttering services.

5 Tips to Prevent Winter Damage to Your Gutters

prevent winter damage to your gutters ice dam

Winter gutter maintenance is necessary for safe and long-lasting roofs. For instance, you might think gutter care is less important in winter; however, gutters can be damaged winter cold. Below, we have tips to prevent winter damage to your gutters

Inspect 

Regularly inspect your roof and gutters to make sure there aren’t blockages or breaks. Scoop out leaves and debris. Run water through your gutter and downspout. Unclog the spout if water doesn’t flow freely. Also, check for slow-moving water towards the downspout. This coudl be an indication of issues with pitch or slope.

prevent winter damage to your gutters

Insulation

Quality attic insulation and ventilation can prevent ice dams from forming. You should have a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic. Typically, if you can see the ceiling joists, you need more insulation.


prevent winter damage to your gutters

Gaps

Attach seams and anchors firmly to the house. For example, there should be no gap between the fascia and gutter. If your gutters are not attached correctly to the sides of the house, this can create a gap. If ice and snow accumulate in this gap, gutters are easily damaged.

prevent winter damage to your gutters

Pitch

Pitch gutters properly to allow water to travel into the downspout. Gutters need to be pitched 1/2 inch per 10 linear feet, to lead water into your downspout.

prevent winter damage to your gutters

Above All, Hire a Professional

Even with proper winter maintenance, there are still issues which can damage gutters. In the winter, backed up water can freeze and result in ice dams, which will damage the roof of your home! And the slower water drains from your gutters, the easier it is to freeze in cold weather.

Call us today for a free gutter inspection. If needed, we also provide a free estimate to clean and repair your gutters. You’ll see for yourself the reason why we continue to leave our customers extremely pleased.

Thinking of Selling Your Home?

for sale sign Selling Your Home gutter king wichita cleaning

Gutter King Wichita knows that selling your home can be very stressful. You’ll begin showing and once there is a contract, the inspections will begin. Included in the general home inspection that your buyer will purchase, is an inspection of the gutter systems.

home inspector and selling your home gutter king wichita cleaning
Home inspectors carefully examine your home for maintenance issues

A pet peeve of many home inspectors is dirty gutters and/or damaged gutter guards. These maintenance issues are red flags and can influence his or her perspective on how well a home has been maintained.

selling your home

This is an easy one!

Remember those first impressions are everything! Before selling, clean out the debris from your gutters. Furthermore, make sure all of the downspouts are fastened to the exterior surface. Also, don’t forget about those splash blocks! This is especially important if you have a two-story home that overlooks gutters from the upper-level windows. Clean gutters send the message that the home is well-maintained! Also, this is an easy chore to knockout.

Gutter King Wichita Logo and selling your home gutter king wichita cleaning
Gutter King Wichita

We can take the hassle out of preparing your home for the gutter systems inspection. Clean gutters and roof valleys will enhance the curb appeal of your home when selling your home. Our technicians will remove debris, clean gutters, and never leave behind a mess.

selling your home

The perfect time to call is now, even if your home isn’t yet listed. Your Realtor will probably ask you to take care of these “easy” maintenance items before showing your home. Call and let us help you knock this one out!

Next: 5 Ways to Prevent Rainwater Damage to Your Home

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