In a city that experiences four seasons, like Cincinnati, lots of homeowners ask how often they need to clean their gutters and what time of year is best. For standard gutters, the answer is typically twice per year in the spring and fall. These answers are relatively intuitive and confirmed by most experts.
Why Clean Gutters in the Fall
The rationale for cleaning your gutters in autumn is that leaves tend to fall en masse from late September through early November. While gutters can be clogged by all kinds of debris, the most common issue is a large amount of dead leaves. Additionally, it is important to clean your gutters before winter. If gutters are backed up with resting water, they will likely expand when the first freeze comes. Depending on the amount of water this can permanently damage or break your gutters. The cycle of freezing and thawing can build ice dams that are likely to
Why Clean Gutters in the Spring
If you missed your chance to clean your gutters before winter then you definitely want to clean them in early spring. In most places, spring gets the most rainfall. Consequently, if there is a problem with your gutters being backed up then you’re going to find out very quickly in the rainy months. Spring also has its own share of debris like leaves, twigs, and pollen which can contribute to gutter issues. If you’re on the recommended schedule of cleaning your gutters twice per year, then you should consider fall (before the first freeze) and late spring so that they are clean all summer and ready for the barrage of autumn leaves.
Clean Gutters Less Often with Gutter Guards
If you find cleaning your gutters to be a hassle then it is usually affordable to hire professionals to clean them for you, but twice per year can become expensive. As an alternative to constant cleaning, you can consider installing gutter guards. When properly installed they reduce the effort required in cleaning and in most cases reduce the frequency of cleaning. To learn more read our top 5 Reasons to Install Gutter Guards.
If you need new gutter, gutter guard, or even a consultation about your gutter situation then contact EMA Construction today for a free estimate.