Gutter Maintenance Tips for Winter

It pays to keep an eye on your gutters during the winter. Your local replacement gutters expert, Gutter Helmet® of Eastern NY, shares tips on how to maintain your gutters during winter.

Inspect the Seams

Sectional gutters typically have one or more seams along the length. Inspect these seams and make sure the sealant is intact; if not, you will need to re-apply sealant as soon as possible. Certain types of sealants can be installed during wet or cold weather. These sealants may be cost a bit more than typical gutter sealants, but they’re less prone to cracking, shrinking or crumbling during temperature extremes. To avoid having to deal with seams in the future, have your gutters replaced with seamless gutters.

Keep an Eye Out for Debris

While debris collecting in the gutters happens most commonly in the fall due to falling leaves, it can also occur during the winter. Unless the debris are encased in ice, try cleaning out the gutters, or at least make sure that the downspouts are not clogged. Keeping the gutters clear is more difficult if the downspouts are blocked. Be careful when using pressure washers as it could damage the gutters. Consider investing in a gutter protection system like Gutter Helmet to eliminate the need for gutter cleaning all year round.

Check for Other Signs of Damage

Inspect your gutters for holes and other kinds of damage that may lead to leaks. Prevent potential damage to the gutters and roofing by trimming tree branches near the roof, allowing a clearance of 10 feet. In addition to preventing tree branches from poking into the roof and gutters, doing so also prevents small animals from gaining access to the roof.

To learn more about our products and services, including heated gutters, call Gutter Helmet of Eastern NY today at (866) 252-9400. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule your free in-home consultation.