Why It Pays To Take A Look At Your Gutters Before Winter
Gutters are one of the most important components of your roof, and they need to be kept in good condition year round. Most of the time, people will forget they even exist because they work so well with so little effort, and if you want them to keep working well, you should put in a little bit of work before major changes in the seasons. Winter is on the horizon and any problems with your gutters need to be examined and fixed before that happens or you could face serious issues. Here are some signs you should look for that indicate the need for repairs or replacement gutters and what can happen if you are not ready.
Why Winter Can Be Dangerous For Gutters
Gutters certainly get more of a workout in summer as it is Australia's wet season, but that does not mean they are immune from issues in winter. In fact, winter can provide more problems than summer due to one simple problem: frozen water. If water gets pooled up in your gutters overnight and the temperature deeps below freezing, then you have a major problem of water expanding into ice and potentially cracking the casing of your gutters, if they are not in good condition. Here are a few things you can do to stop this, and other issues related to winter, from affecting your gutters.
Replace Leaning Sections And Add A Gutter Grate
When you inspect your gutters, the most obvious sign of issue will be with the structural stability of certain sections. Some parts will most likely be leaning, if not sagging quite badly. These parts need a professional to either repair the supporting struts or replace those sections if you want your gutter to last through the winter. You also should consider installing a grate on top of your gutter to stop twigs and leaves falling into the gutter and blocking it up. This organic debris can cause the very build-up in water that you are trying to avoid during winter, so getting a grate is vital.
Professional Once Over
If you haven't had a look or inspected your gutters for years on end, then even if you can't see any issues from the ground, you should get a professional to come and have a look. You never know what problems could be lurking on top, just out of site, and it is not safe to conduct this investigation on your own. The last thing you want to do is get hurt trying to be a good homeowner. Let the professionals take care of it so you can feel secure about going into winter prepared.