As the calendar turns to September, the air starts to become more crisp, kids are heading back to school, and homeowners are starting to prepare their properties for the change in season. It truly is the perfect month for routine maintenance before the fall weather really sets in.

While you may be thinking about prepping your lawn or doublechecking the heating system, there is one critical area of your home that requires your immediate attention during this time of year: your gutter system.

Right now, trees are just starting to change color and drop their leaves. Neglecting your gutters during this transitional period can act as a ticking bomb for your home. A blocked drainage system quickly starts a destructive domino effect, leading to expensive roof water damage and foundation shifting.

Here is a guide or a ‘how to’ on cleaning your gutters with protecting your home in mind, along with a September checklist to get your property ready.

The Fall Domino Effect: How Blockages Cause Damage

Your gutters serve one main purpose: to effectively capture water runoff from your roof and channel it far away from your home’s structural foundation. When early fall debris builds up, that channel gets blocked.

When storms happen and leaves begin to gather, problems can start.

The Threat to Your Roof: Standing Water and Wood Rot

When water isn’t able to flow through your gutters, it backs up onto the lower edge of your roof. Standing water trapped under leaves and debris creates an environment for moisture to creep in.

This trapped moisture can quickly move under your roof shingles, which leads to:

• Accelerated shingle deterioration
• Wood rot in the fascia boards and roof underlayment
• Costly interior ceiling and wall leaks

2. The Threat to Your Gutters: Sagging and Structural Issues

Wet leaves, pine needles, and debris that tend to fall this time of year can weigh more than you think. When there’s rain mixed with this kind of debris, it can put pressure on your gutters.

This kind of continuous pressure causes the hardware that secures the gutters to warm and pull away from the fascia. Over time, the entire gutter system can tear away from your home, damaging your roofline and siding.

3. The Threat to Your Foundation: Soil Erosion and Cracking

When water isn’t able to drain properly through your downspouts, it overflows directly over the sides of the gutters. Instead of being diverted safely away, rainwater pools at the base of your home.

This can lead to cracks in your concrete foundation, foundation shifting or bowing walls, or basement flooding/mold growth.

Your September Drainage Checklist

To make sure your home is in a good place to handle the change of seasons without issues, make sure to keep these essential steps in mind this month:

• Clear roof debris: Use a broom or leaf blower to clear falling leaves or overhanging branches from the roof shingles so they don’t wash back into your gutters during storms, etc.
• Scoop out debris: Working safely from a sturdy ladder to clear leaves or other organic material.

• Flush the system with a hose: Spray water from the far end towards the downspouts to wash away sediment and ensure that water is flowing smoothly. Also, make sure to check for any sort of blockages
• Inspect/tighten hardware: Check the slope of your gutters to make sure water can move smoothly. Tighten loose screws and add gutter sealant if you notice any minor leaks.
• Position downspout extensions: Make sure your downspout extensions are clear and routing water at least 3-6 ft away from your home’s foundation.

In Need of a Professional?

Haynes Construction & Restoration Inc. knows all about ensuring your gutters and roofing system are up to date and working properly for the safety of your home as well as the seasons ahead. 

Hiring a professional contractor for your gutters and roofing needs ensures the job is done safely and efficiently. A trained professional won’t just remove leaves, but they’ll inspect the gutter structure, assess the state of your roof, identify any issues, and recommend any fixes or upgrades like gutter guards in order to protect your home long-term.