Keep your gutters well-maintained this winter so that you don’t have to worry about costly repairs come springtime. Below are tips that will teach you precisely what you need to do to keep your gutters safe during the cold winter.
Put gutter guards in place
Gutter guards reduce debris — like autumn leaves and winter snow accumulation — which can cause blockage or weight-bearing damage to your rain gutters.
No gutter guard is perfect, though. Even high-quality gutter guards can’t completely prevent accumulation — so regular gutter cleaning and inspection are still recommended. Source: Household-Tips.TheFunTimesGuide
Don’t forget the downspouts
Downspouts are important aspects of your gutter system, as they cause water to flow away from your home. Ideally, downspouts should redirect water at least 10 feet away from your foundation. If they’re not, you can buy simple, flexible extenders that will help you get the water away from your home.
If your downspout is connected to a rain barrel, disconnect it until the spring. Rain barrels can freeze in the wintertime and cause a backup of ice which could permanently damage your downspout. Source: HomeServe
Invest in heat cables
During extra cold winters, you might get an ice dam despite your best efforts to keep your roof cold and clear. In this case, you might consider installing heat cables. These electric heating cables can be placed anywhere an ice dam might occur, including gutters, downspouts and at the eaves of the roof. These cables melt ice that forms in places where ice buildup regularly occurs, preventing water from seeping under your shingles. Source: HomeServe
Improve attic insulation
The main way to keep gutters from freezing and contributing to ice dams is to fix the underlying issue of attic insulation. To do so, you’ll need to consult a roofing professional to discover what your roof and attic need to prevent ice dams and limit their damage. Source: IKO
If you need assistance in completing your winter gutter maintenance tasks, don’t hesitate to call us for more information. We’ll gladly help you get the job done, so you can have one less thing to worry about this winter.
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
