With very cold weather slowly creeping closer on the calendar, it’s time to give your home a check-up to ensure you don’t have to deal with leaks and other headaches over the winter. Jeff Menke of Gutter Helmet of Minnesota recently offered these winterizing tips to homeowners on the CBS Minnesota Mid-Morning Show with Jason DeRusha and Kylie Bearse.
Gutter Helmet Offers Tips On Winterizing Your Home
“The number one problem I see is water entering a home during the winter, whether through the roof or the basement,” explained Menke. “There are some simple things that people can do to prevent that from occurring.” He suggested the following four tips that will help you keep your home warm and dry this winter.
Inspect the roof. Walk around your roof and do a visual inspection from the ground, or hire a professional to do it for you. You’re looking for curling shingles, missing shingles and obvious damage. If you see something that is a concern, call a professional for repairs that will prevent water from entering through the roof.
Plug the leaks. Address any evidence of leaks immediately. Also do a visual inspection of your siding and soffit on overhangs. Cracks or holes in these areas can provide an entry point for rodents and other critters to enter your home as temperatures drop.
Clear gutter clutter. Clogged gutters can lead to extensive damage to a home when water is not properly diverted away, making gutter maintenance a crucial chore in the fall after the leaves have fallen. Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris so when the spring thaw comes, water can flow away from your house.
Although gutter cleaning can be quite dangerous, some people choose to climb up and do it themselves. An excellent alternative is the Gutter Helmet® gutter protection system, a permanent solution that keeps leaves and debris out so you never have to clean gutters again.
Direct water down and out. “Often homeowners do not have gutter extensions that are long enough,” said Menke. “You really want to get water four to five feet away from the house. Otherwise it can enter the home through the basement.” If a gutter extension has been damaged, be sure to replace it with an extension that is long enough to keep water away.
Get Gutter Helmet® to Protect Your Home
Gutter Helmet has been helping American homeowners protect their homes for more than 30 years. To schedule a free in-home consultation with the Gutter Helmet dealer in your area, call (800) 824-3772 today.
