When the sun is shining, it’s easy to forget just how much heavy lifting your gutters do. But if you’ve dealt with as much water damage as we have, you’ll know that clean, functional gutters are something you’ll want to have 24/7/365. Here’s how Gutter Helmet® protects your home in any season.
Different parts of the country experience different weather conditions. In the past year, we’ve seen flooding from rains, wildfires from unusually dry conditions and snow later into the spring that we’ve seen previously. No matter where you live and what conditions your home experiences, season after season, clean gutters add an element of protection to your home. Choosing the best gutter guard system can make a difference.
Spring
April showers bring May flowers. Those April showers also rinse pollen and other debris from your roof. When that debris ends up in your gutters, they stop flowing. Spring also means birds building nests. Pollen, tree droppings, bird nests and leftover leaves that sometimes fall in the spring all lead to clogged gutters. If you get a heavy spring rain, you may end up with water overflowing your gutters – and eventually that water either backs up onto the roof or pools around the foundation, potentially entering the basement or crawlspace. Clean gutters allow water to flow off your roof and safely into your rain barrel, garden or yard.
Summer
Summer storms often dump a lot of rain in a short period of time. Clogged gutters will overflow quickly. However, if it’s unseasonably dry or you live in an area where the summer doesn’t bring a lot of rain, clean gutters can still protect your home. Because debris like dry twigs and leaves are excellent fuel for fires, you should keep your gutters clean in the summer, whether you’re in an area prone to wildfires or not. In fact, the University of California Homeowner’s Wildfire Mitigation Guide recommends aluminum gutters and aluminum gutter covers because they not only keep debris from accumulating, but also because they are more fire-resistant than vinyl.
Fall
This is the time homeowners think most about gutters and wish they had the best gutter guard system! No one likes climbing ladders and cleaning the muck out, year after year. Add the potential fall danger from climbing up and down the ladder, and your gutter covers add an element of safety for you. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can wait until spring to clean them. If you don’t have aluminum gutter covers on your home, you should clean them periodically throughout the season.
Winter
If you live in an area that gets any type of precipitation in winter, clean gutters will protect your home just like they do the rest of the year. However, if you live in an area prone to snow, and especially the freeze-thaw cycle, the best gutter guard system and ice reduction system – Gutter Helmet® and Helmet Heat® – will help prevent ice dams which can lead to significant roof and gutter damage. Ice dams form when the water from melting snow doesn’t have anywhere to go because of clogged gutters.
Don’t risk water damage (or worse) to your home. Learn more about aluminum gutter covers from Gutter Helmet today! We offer the best gutter guard system, no matter the season or where you live throughout North America. Call (800) 824-3772 or fill out our contact form.
