To ensure the proper functioning and durability of your home's eavestroughs, it is important to properly clean, inspect and maintain them. You can choose to take care of these steps yourself or call in a specialist.
In most cases, eavestrough cleaning should ideally be done twice a year. This operation removes debris that can clog or damage your installations, as well as checking for the first signs of deterioration. Poor maintenance can have serious and costly consequences. Consult this page to find out the many reasons why you should clean your eavestroughs regularly.
You will find below a few ideas to help you determine the optimal cleaning frequency for your situation.
As soon as you notice an anomaly
When it rains, simply watch your eavestroughs and make sure that the water is draining properly. If the eavestroughs are obviously overflowing, it is a sign that you need to intervene quickly. If you wait too long, you run the risk of water infiltrating through the roof edge, among other things. Once the temperature is warmer, clean the eavestroughs if you see that a section is obstructed. Take advantage of this time to check if they appear damaged. Keep in mind that after a major storm, water and debris will accumulate more easily in the eavestroughs, especially if they were not in excellent condition before. So it is especially important to check them once the storm has passed.
Here are some other examples of cases that require cleaning or repair: -Eavestroughs still dripping a few days after it rains. -There are leaks between the eavestrough and the fascia (part of the roof on which the eavestroughs are installed; the fascia prevents the various elements from entering the house and causing damage to the structure). -water drips from soffits (panels under the roof edge) -the downspout overflows -there are rainwater stains behind downspouts -water does not come out of the downspout -There are visible cracks in the foundation.
Regardless of the weather conditions, you must act as soon as you notice a problem with any component of your home's rainwater drainage system.
Regular maintenance
Even if you feel that your eavestroughs are in good condition, they should be cleaned at least once a year. If there are no mature trees overhanging them, this frequency may be sufficient.
However, experts will ideally recommend two annual cleanings. The exact times of the year that are best to do them may vary depending on the species of trees near your home. Not all trees drop their leaves, thorns, buds or fruit at the same time. Generally, you can plan a clean-up in late fall to remove dead leaves when they have fallen, and another one in late spring to remove buds and fruit such as samaras. Also plan that if there are no hardwood trees around your home and the roof is asphalt shingles, you should remove any granules that accumulate in the eavestroughs every five years.
Maintenance according to the presence of trees
If the roof and eavestroughs are overhung by at least one tree, they may need to be inspected and cleaned more than twice a year. The presence of mature trees near a building can lead to a variety of problems, especially if trees are higher than the height of the house and their branches extend above the roof. The accumulation of more leaves or conifer needles in eavestroughs can cause direct damage and early wear and tear, promoting water infiltration and accelerating normal maintenance expenses. Also, tree branches can whip the building in high winds and cause additional wear and tear on the eavestroughs. If your trees drop wilted flowers, fruit or seeds at times other than late spring and fall, plan appropriate times to clear your eavestroughs. Why