3 Ways to Avoid DIY Gutter Repair

The rain gutters on your home are probably the least appreciated element of your home, but when they are not working right, you will know it.

Rain gutters appear very unassuming, to the point where you might forget that they are there, but they have an important job to do: they route the runoff from your roof so it drains away from the house so there is no water damage during or after rainstorms.

Most houses have rain gutters attached to their roofs. Homes with large overhangs that do a similar job might not need them. If you have them though it is important to keep them in good shape and to replace them when they get cracked and corroded and can no longer do their job effective.

Here are 3 ways to avoid DIY gutter repair:

1. Make Sure You Have a Quality Rain Gutter System

Rain gutters come in both DIY and professionally installed variety. DIY rain gutter systems are available in vinyl, sheet metal and aluminum at any of your local home improvement centers so you can put up the gutters yourself. Or you can have a professional gutter company come in and do the installation for you.

Look for these common measurements:

• “U” shape or a “K” style
• Channels are usually 4, 5, or 6 inches in diameter
• Typically matching downspouts are 2-by-3-ince or 3-by-4-inch rectangular or 3- or 4-ince round pieces.

For the least hassle, it is always best to go with one of the larger systems because they are less likely to clog. And if you have a lot of trees on your property, that could be a godsend.

If you are going the DIY route than vinyl gutter systems are the most popular and easily found at any local home improvement store. If you’d like the gutters to be a particular color than aluminum gutters are your best bet because they can come in over 25 different colors. Another option is to use galvanized sheet metal. It is a lot more durable than the aluminum which is a plus, but would need to be painted the color you desire. While not used very often any more, gutter systems can also come in wood for older, historical houses.

If you decide to get your gutter system professionally installed, one of your options will be seamless gutters which prevents any leakage from seams. These types of systems are usually made from aluminum, copper or factory-painted steel.

2. Maintain Your Gutters Properly

While you can’t prevent having to repairing your rain gutters completely, if you take care of them properly and clean them out of debris, then the less repair you will have to do.

Besides making sure you have a good quality system, the other key to no hassle house gutters is to maintain them properly. For them to work properly, you need to keep the gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and debris and this takes regular maintenance. Either you have to climb the ladder and do it yourself or you need to hire a professional gutter cleaning company to do it for you. The rule of thumb is to clean your gutters at least twice a year, but more if you have a lot of trees hanging over your house or you live in an area that experiences a lot of storms.

If you have any concerns about safely climbing up and down a ladder and want to avoid DIY gutter repair, then your safest bet is to hire a professional cleaning company. If you are going to do it yourself, make sure you have a sturdy ladder and never ever stand on the top two rungs.

Ways to clean your gutters:

• A leaf blower or a hose– but make sure you wear goggles and a dust mask and heavy work gloves.
• Purchase a gutter cleaning kit that can connect to your leaf blower.
• Use a garden trowel or gutter scoop to clean it out by hand. For best results, start at the drain outlet near the low end of the gutter. Then just dump into a bucket to dispose of when you are all done. It is best to do it when the leaves are only slightly damp not real soggy.

Besides focusing on what is just in the gutters, also make sure to use the leaf blower to blow any leaves or debris off the roof itself so it doesn’t all end up in the gutters the next time it rains.

There are different gutter guards and leaf-catchers that can help make maintaining your gutter system a lot easier. But be careful when choosing one because, debris can still settle through them and many of these products are not cheap. If you do decide to get one, make sure it can be easily removed for cleaning.

Another product that can make maintaining your gutter system easier is TheSpoutOff. It is especially helpful if you have small rain gutter outlets because TheSpoutoff outlets are designed with a larger opening allowing for water to still run down even if other parts of the gutter are clogged. Another great plus is that these outlets are easy to keep clean through the removable downspout that allows you to check on the outlets without having to climb a ladder. With TheSpoutOff, a fear of heights or balance concerns will no longer keep you from properly taking care of your home and it is a lot cheaper than hiring a professional cleaner to come regularly to clear out all the debris.

The SpoutOff can be retrofitted to your current gutter system or it can be added to a new one, depending upon your needs. The instructions are relatively easy to follow so it is something you can easily install yourself, but any local gutter company can do it for you as well.

3. Get a Professional to Do the Gutter Repair

If you have to get gutter repair to your rain gutters and you don’t want to fix them yourself, you can always get a professional contractor out to do it for you. You’ll have no hassle and a better sense of confidence that the job got done right, but it is more expensive than doing it yourself.

Want to learn more about how TheSpoutOff can make your seasonal outdoor chores a lot easier and avoid DIY gutter repair? Contact TheSpoutOff today to learn how it can take the hassle out of cleaning your gutters.