We all love the rustic color of the leaves during fall and the beauty of white that covers nature during winter, but sometimes, it’s not so pretty. Especially for your home.
The cold climate brought by autumn and winter can be harsh on your home – especially on your roof and gutters. The withered leaves can accumulate and may clog your rainwater system. The extreme cold can cause damage to your gutter especially if they are made of aluminum and vinyl materials. The following are the threats that your rainwater system will face during fall and winter season.
- Bursting pipes
Clogging is the major reason of bursting pipes in autumn. This is caused by the accumulation of falling leaves and twigs in the gutter. If your roof and gutters can no longer handle the clogged debris, it may cause bursting of your pipers or and cause water to leak into your home. It is important to clean up your gutters at least three times before winter comes in order to give enough space for the water to freely flow away from the home.
- Condensation
Condensation becomes an issue when the heat from your home meets the cold temperature of the outside environment. When this happens, a kind of pressure is being created which can harm your roof and gutters. It is important to remove excess ice and snow on your roof occasionally in order to avoid this problem.
- Ice dams
Heavy snow falling one day then it melts the next day and then refreezes again — these are the common scenarios during winter season. This repetitive process can be damaging to the roof especially if they freezes inside your gutters. A good gutter system can help solve the problem. You might also like to install a heating system to prevent the buildup of ice dams in your gutters.
- Snow buildup
As the snow accumulates over time, they also get heavier. Your gutters are designed to let rainwater pass through from your roof; not to carry the heavy weight of snow.
- Icicles
Icicles are those transparent stalactites on your roof and gutters during winter. They are formed when the snow melts and then freezes again as it drips from your roof to the ground. Icicles may look beautiful but it could also mean danger to your gutter system. These formations should be removed or else they could add weight to your gutters resulting in a tear. They can also get into your roof shingles which may cause water leaking into your house.
Your gutters can last for 20 or more years depending on how you take care of it. You should avoid the above mentioned threats to your gutter for it to last longer. Contacting a professional for your roof and gutter maintenance can also help you maintain or find the best solutions for your home and gutters.
