Homeowners frequently consider their gutters during the rainy seasons of summer and spring. However, to keep your gutters flowing this winter, it’s crucial to recognize their importance in safeguarding your home during the colder months as well.
Regularly cleaning your gutters helps keep things flowing nicely. But a melting blanket of snow can lead to clogs and other unexpected problems.
Dealing with your gutters during the cold winter months can be a chore, and you should exercise extreme caution if you do, but it can prevent the expensive repairs that winter weather can cause. So before the dead of winter sets in, take a look at your gutters to make sure they’re ready.
How to prepare your gutters for winter
Why is it important to ensure your gutters work properly during the winter? As ice expands, it can lead to fascia damage and even a cracked foundation.
Clogged gutters can lead to costly repairs and can also be dangerous. Ice buildup in your gutters prevents the flow of melted snow to your downspouts for proper drainage. The stacked up ice and snow cause the runoff to flow over the lip of your gutters and create long icicles.
1. Inspect Seams and Anchors
Inspect for structural damage. Examine fascia, siding, and foundation for signs of water-related damage such as water staining or rotting. If there’s damage, be sure to make the needed repairs as soon as possible.
Check for leaks and make sure the gutters are firmly attached to your house. There shouldn’t be any gaps between the fascia and the gutter.
2. Clear Out Your Gutters
Although it’s an unpleasant chore, cleaning your gutters is one of the easiest ways to keep them flowing freely. Be sure to check out the corners and junctions where leaves and debris often collect.
3. Check Your Downspouts and Diverters
Water should be redirected from the foundation of your home. Make sure water is not pooling near your home but flows away from it.
Gutter maintenance can be a messy task, but it can save you from preventable, costly repairs.
How to keep your gutters flowing this winter
1. Make Sure Your Gutters Are Properly Sloped
The right rain gutter slope allows water to drain through your gutters to your downspout. If your gutters are too flat, water can sit there instead, and it will freeze overnight. Adjust the slope if needed before cold weather sets in to avoid iced gutters caused by poor drainage.
2. Remove Excessive Snow From Your Roof
Sometimes a big blizzard makes it nearly impossible to keep your gutters from clogging and freezing. To keep them free of snow after the storm, invest in a roof rake to clear snow from the eaves and gutters as soon as you can.
3. Consider Adding Rock Salt
Just as rock salt will melt ice on your walkways, so too will it melt ice in your gutters. A sprinkling of rock salt can nip ice gutter problems in the bud if you notice icicles beginning to form.
Not crazy about the idea of working on your gutters? We understand.
So, give us a call at JB Roofing & Gutters to repair or install your gutters. We’re your residential Midwest and central Iowa gutter specialists ready to help you protect your greatest investment this winter and all year round.
About the Author
Joe Burkhart, the driving force behind JB Roofing, has been a trusted roofing expert in Ankeny, IA, since 2006. Joe’s passion for quality craftsmanship and personalized service comes from over 20 years of hands-on experience, starting his journey in the roofing industry back in the early 1990s. JB Roofing is more than just a business to Joe—it’s a reflection of his commitment to providing reliable, long-lasting roofs that protect homes and families across Iowa.
