Cleaning gutters

Anyone who's cleaned out a gutter knows it's a messy job with an even messier time cleaning up the debris on the ground after it's been cleaned out of the gutters. But it's a seasonal task that is necessary so your gutters are able to drain moisture away from your roof and foundations during rainy periods.

Here is some information to help you learn more about gutters and find the right service professional to clean your gutters:

Reasons for cleaning your gutters

Water doesn't drain from the downspouts when leaves and other debris clog at the elbows and downspouts, causing overflow. Cleaning this is an easy, do-it-yourself job. Simply insert a hose from the bottom and stuff the opening around the hose with rags so that all the water's force goes upward toward whatever's blocking the pipe.

When water overflows from gutter and drips from joints, the leaks can be sealed with caulk. There's no substitute for cleaning out your gutter system in the spring and fall. Your gutters and downspouts direct rain and snowmelt away from the foundation of the house. When your gutter is clogged with leaves and needles, the water can overflow and collect near the house, seeping through the foundation walls and into the basement.

Strong winds, rain and freeze-thaw cycles can loosen and blow the mineral granules off asphalt shingles. These can drain into your gutters and downspouts and clog them up.

Strainers and guards

Leaf strainers and wire mesh don't always work. They're designed to keep debris out of the gutter, but leaves may cling to the screening or the strainer and block it. This may keep water from the gutters, essentially negating the effectiveness of your drainage system. Cleaning your gutters will solve this problem.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com