5 Ways to Make Sure Your Gutters Survive Winter

Your home’s gutters play an essential role in directing water away from your roof, siding, windows, and foundation. Allowing your gutters to become structurally compromised can also affect the integrity of the rest of your home. Unprepared gutters can clog, crack, or sag if not adequately  prepared for winter weather, so we’ve put together five tips to help ensure your gutters can survive this winter.

To learn more about preparing your Columbus home’s gutter for winter, contact APCO at 614-254-5489.

1.    Clean Out Your Gutters

If debris (like leaves and twigs) build up and cause clogs in your gutter system, rainwater or melting snow can run off and freeze on the ground, forming slip-and-fall dangers around your house. To properly clean your gutters, you should:

• Remove debris from your gutters. Doing it by hand is tedious work, but preventing expensive damage to your home’s foundation is worth the effort.
• Inspect the fasteners that attach your gutters to your home. They can loosen over time and change your gutters’ slope, which can lead to overflow and pooling issues.
• Check your downspouts to ensure they are not clogged or otherwise damaged. Knock on your downspouts like you’re knocking on a door ― a clogged spout will produce a dampened sound.

2.    Trim the Trees Around Your Home

You can reduce the debris that falls into your gutters by trimming any tree branches near your roofline. As an added benefit, you’ll also protect your gutters and roof from any branches that may fall when weighed down with snow or ice.

3.    Test Your Gutters

The easiest way to do this is to use a hose to run water through your gutters while you look for leaks or clogs. Call a professional if you find any damage or leaky spots.

4.    Install Heat Tape

During the coldest months of the year, water can actually freeze in your gutters and cause blockages that could cause roof damage. Installing heat tape in your gutters is an option to prevent this from happening, but the job should be completed by a professional to ensure it is done correctly.

5.    Install Gutter Guards

Gutter guards help to reduce the volume of debris that accumulate in your gutters throughout the year. APCO has a variety of gutter guard options available and can help with proper installation.

Founded in 1962, APCO has received more Consumers’ Choice Awards than any other company in Ohio. Our primary goal is to provide exceptional products and services to our customers, with no fancy gimmicks or high-pressure sales techniques. APCO serves these areas near Columbus, OH. If you need new gutters or gutter guards, contact the APCO gutter experts at 614-254-5489 today.