Why are my gutters overflowing even when it is not raining heavily?

If a light sprinkle is enough to turn your roof edge into a waterfall, you are likely dealing with a silent block.

Even if your gutters look mostly clear on top, wet leaves, twigs, and shingle grit easily pack down into a tight, waterproof sludge near the bottom of the channel or inside the downpipe. Because the water cannot make the turn down the pipe, it backs up instantly. Once the shallow trough fills up, even a tiny bit of rain has nowhere to go except over the sides—robbing your foundation of proper drainage and threatening your siding and fascia boards.

 How often should gutters actually be cleaned?

A lot of homeowners hope that cleaning the gutters once a year in the late fall is a "one-and-done" chore. Unfortunately, nature does not work that neatly.

If you have mature trees on or near your property dropping debris all autumn long, a single cleaning usually is not enough. Many homes need a minimum of two cleanings a year—once in the late fall after the majority of the leaves have fallen, and another in the spring to clear out helicopter seeds, blossoms, and seasonal debris.

Can I leave my gutters full until winter is over?

It is tempting to look at a full gutter in late November and think, "I will just deal with it in the spring." However, leaving your gutters packed full of wet debris through the winter is a gamble you do not want to take.

When trapped water and wet leaves sit in your gutters and freezing temperatures roll in, that moisture turns solid. This creates heavy, expanding ice blocks known as ice dams. Ice dams prevent any future melting snow or rain from draining, forcing water up underneath your roof shingles, rotting your roof decking, and adding massive, sagging weight that can pull your gutters completely off your house.

Don't Wait for the Freeze

Climbing a ladder in the cold to scoop out mucky, frozen-leaf sludge is nobody's idea of a good weekend.

Let the professionals handle the messy work so your home stays safe and dry all season long. Contact Nienaber And Sons Lawn Care today to schedule your fall property cleanup and professional gutter maintenance!