It's Gutter Time!

As the leaves are starting to fall right now, it's time to think about cleaning the rain gutters.

Debris from pine needles and leaves that collect in the rain gutter can lead to a fire hazard as well as block the rain gutter’s function, causing water to back up and potentially weaken the gutters and the home’s eaves. It can also create standing water which can lead to rot, mold, and mosquitoes.

Trying to clean gutters yourself can be quite dangerous. There are several deaths a year that were caused by falls from roofs or ladders while cleaning gutters.

There are some systems on the market that claim to keep the gutters free of debris and leaves. However, experts caution that in heavy rain storms sometimes certain products may malfunction by causing the leaves to dam up on the rain and prevent rain from entering the gutter too.

The bottom line? Use experts to safely clean your gutters. And even if you have gutter guards, don’t rely solely on them--have your gutters checked regularly.