If you live in Gauteng, winter is the perfect time to prepare your gutters before the rains start to fall. As a general rule of thumb, cleaning of gutters should be done twice a year, once at the beginning of spring to remove winter’s debris and prepare for the rains ahead and again at the end of summer to remove summer foliage in preparation for autumn and winter. It is important to note that gutters are not meant to carry a great deal of weight and when they clog up with debris and water, the undue stress can cause sagging or the gutters may pull away from the siding.

Cleaning gutters regularly will not only help them function better and keep your building dryer but will extend the life of the gutters to continually function year after year, season after season.

Gutters are an integral part of a building’s drainage system.

During a rainstorm, roof gutters divert runoff from a large surface i.e. the roof, to where it can drain away from the building effectively. Their function is to protect the roofs covering, siding, windows and doors not to mention the foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding and damp. Only about 2 centimetres of rain falling on the rooftop of an average house produces over 3000 litres of runoff and where all that water goes, depends largely on your gutters.

If they’re clogged, sagging or leaky, water running off the roof will penetrate the exterior siding and cause indoor water damage, undermine the entire building’s foundation.

To ensure your gutters are summer rain ready, here are some tips on gutter maintenance.

Gutter cleaning

Remove larger loose debris stuck in the gutters such as branches, twigs and leaves by hand. Should your clogged gutters contain stagnant water, scoop out the water and other debris using a putty knife and spoon.

Flush out the cleaned segment of gutters using a hosepipe. While flushing the gutters out, watch the downspouts to identify how well the water is flowing. If downspouts are clogged, remove the nozzle from the hose, insert the hose into the bottom of the downspout and run it upwards toward the roof, turn on the water to flush out the clog.

Handy tip 1: Clear your roof and gutters with a leaf blower before starting the job to blow off any loose matter that has settled on the roof that will ultimately end up in the gutters.

Leaking stop ends

If the water constantly leaks out the end of a gutter the stop end is probably faulty. Remove the securing screw, pry off the old stop and take it to a hardware store for a replacement. Remove any residue or debris on the end of the gutter and give it a clean. Secure the replacement stop end with exterior silicone sealant and press the cap onto the end of the gutter and install the screw to keep it in place.

Sagging Gutters

To function properly, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and other debris. When gutters clog up, drain outlets will eventually dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters. Clogged gutters overflow and this leads to them pulling loose from the siding. It’s important not to let water pool in the gutters as this will lead to rust.

Replace any failing attachments with new metal gutter hangers. Attach the new gutter hanger to a solid location on the fascia and secure it with screws.

Handy tip 2: Use gutter guards and leaf-catchers to help minimise the need to clean gutters. Check that the leaf-catching system can be easily removed for cleaning before purchasing.

When should you clean your gutters?

Plan to clean the gutter system every late winter and at the end of autumn, and more often if your roof is directly beneath trees. The best time to clean gutters is after autumn winds have blown leaves from the trees but before the rain has made the leaves a soggy mess inside gutters.

The seasons are turning and winter is here, it’s time to start thinking about seasonal chores and preparing your home for the changes that the weather will bring. Getting the pool swim-ready, dusting off the braai and making sure the wood is chopped and stored for that outdoor fireplace. But don’t overlook your gutters! It’s not the most exciting chore, but it’s critical to the longevity of your home and you need to put it at the top of your seasonal to-do list so you’re not caught off guard by the first rains.

While we know gutter cleaning isn’t fun to think about, we encourage you to schedule time to do it or have a professional do it for you before the rains begin. And, if you happen to find yourself with a leaking, sagging, or detaching gutter, remember you can give us a call. CleanCo. Coatings are available for all your roofing and guttering requirements no matter the season to keep your roof and gutters working as they should.