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Understanding Essential Gutter Cleaning Tools

We often take many aspects of home maintenance for granted, like gutter cleaning. But when you think about it, the gutters are an essential part of your home’s drainage system, and if they’re not kept clean, they can cause all sorts of problems.

So, in this blog post, we’re going to explore some of the different gutter cleaning tools available on the market to make an informed decision about which one is right for you. From manual tools to power washers, there are many options out there, and we’ll help you sort through them.

But first;

What are Gutter Guards?

Gutter guards are tools designed to protect your gutters from debris and leaves. Gutter guards have small holes or slits that allow water to pass through while keeping out larger debris. They can be made of different materials, such as plastic or metal, and are available in various fit most standard gutters.

If you have many trees near your home or live in an area with high winds, gutter guards can help keep your gutters clean and free of debris. They can also be helpful if you have pets that like to climb on your roof or dig in your yard, as they can help prevent them from getting into the gutters and causing damage.

Gutter guards are not 100% effective at keeping all debris out of your gutters, so it’s still important to inspect and clean gutters regularly. However, they can significantly reduce the time and effort required for gutter maintenance.

Types of Gutter Cleaning Tools

If you have ever cleaned your gutters by hand, you know it is a dirty and challenging job. Not only do you have to get up on a ladder, but you also have to remove all of the dirt and debris by hand. This can be time-consuming and dangerous.

A gutter cleaning tool can make this job much easier and safer. And no matter which type of gutter cleaning tool you choose, it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid damaging your gutters or yourself.

Various gutter cleaning tools are available on the market, each designed for a specific purpose, so choosing one that will work best for your needs is essential. Here is a breakdown of the different types of gutter-cleaning tools:

A Pressure Washer Telescopic Wand

A pressure washer wand is a tool that is used to clean the exterior of buildings. It is similar to a paint sprayer and uses high-pressure water to blast off dirt and grime; hence It is an outstanding gutter-cleaning tool for removing stubborn dirt and debris. The pressure washer wand is connected to a garden hose and features a trigger mechanism that controls how much water is sprayed.

This is a variation of the pressure washer wand. Instead of having a single wand, it comes with two telescoping poles that extend up to 60 inches each. This allows the user to clean larger areas without needing to move around.

A pressure washer can be used to clean the outside of gutters. It should be set to a low-pressure setting to avoid damaging the gutters.

Getter Gutter ScoopThe Getter Gutter Scoop

A gutter scoop is a handheld tool to remove leaves and debris from gutters. It consists of a long handle with a scoop at the end.

The getter gutter scoop is designed to help clear out debris inside the gutter. It works by scraping the inside of the guttering system while simultaneously pushing debris toward the outside of the gutter. The getter gutter scoop is attached to a telescoping pole that extends up to 30 inches. This makes reaching the bottom of the gutter, where debris often collects, easier.

GutterSickle-gutter cleaning toolThe GutterSickle

A gutter sickle is a tool used to cut away debris from gutters. It is an excellent tool for cutting through thick grass and weeds that may be growing in your gutters.

It consists of a long handle with a sharp blade at the end. When using the gutter sickle, it is best to hold the handle firmly and swing the blade back and forth across the top edge of the gutter. This should remove any clogs or debris that may have accumulated over time.

Conclusion

Gutter cleaning is an essential but often overlooked home maintenance task. With the right tools, keeping your gutters clean and clear of debris can be easy. In this guide, we’ve shared our top picks for gutter cleaning tools to help you get the job done quickly and easily. And if you need more, the Clarksville Gutter Pros provide gutter cleaning and maintenance. We offer comprehensive care and repair to your home’s exterior. Want reliable and reputable services? Feel free to contact us! We shall be happy to help!

Spring Gutter Cleaning

After winter comes spring, a time of the year many look forward to for the warm weather it brings. It’s also the time of the year when flowers blossom, beautifying neighborhoods. Another thing that spring gives you is an excellent opportunity to do some thorough cleaning and home maintenance tasks.

As you know, there are many spring cleaning chores, and they can be tiresome. As a result, it’s easy to forget about one of the most important chores, gutter cleaning.

Why Is Gutter Cleaning Important?

While the gutters may look clean and in great condition from below, they may be clogged and damaged. So, taking the time to clean and inspect your gutters is necessary. Otherwise, you’ll reduce the lifespan of your shingles.

In addition, you’ll have to deal with the consequences of clogged gutters when the rains begin. These include:

  • Water damage- Buildup of twigs, leaves, and other debris will cause clogging. As a result, there’s no clear pathway for water, forcing it onto the roof and walls, which will become damaged.
  • Growth of mold- Clogging causes water to stagnate, making the gutter a breeding ground for mold. This mold can spread to the roof and walls.
  • Pest infestation- The debris on gutters such as leaves attracts pests and critters such as wasps, ants, squirrels, and mice.

While gutter cleaning may seem like an inconvenience, it’s still something you cannot afford to ignore. Without it, the best-case scenario may involve dealing with pests and critters. However, if there’s water damage and mold, it becomes more complicated.

First, mold and damage put you and your loved ones at risk. Secondly, mold removal and doing repairs for water damage also come at a cost. Instead of leaving it to chance, be sure to inspect, clean, and repair gutters regularly.

Tips for Cleaning Gutters

Now that you know why it’s important to clean your gutters, it’s time to find out how to go about it. If you make it a habit, your gutters will remain in excellent condition for a long time. Here’s how to go about it:

  • Gather all the equipment you need to clean the gutters. These include a ladder, strong rubber or plastic gloves, and a gutter scoop or sturdy plastic cup.
  • Climb the ladder until your eye level is 2-3 feet above the gutter.
  • Use the gutter scoop or cup to gently scoop leaves, dirt, mud, and debris from the gutter. Have a bag hanging beside the ladder to toss the dirt.
  • After removing all the dirt, use a hose to rinse the gutters. To do a thorough job, use a high-pressure nozzle.

Gutter Cleaning Services

If everything goes well, you’ll leave the gutters sparkling clean. However, there’s also a chance that you may encounter some challenges, such as clogged or damaged drain pipes. If so, even if the gutters are clean, water will not flow out as you’d expect.

This is where our gutter cleaning services will come into play. We’ll send in an expert or two to clean your gutters thoroughly. During this process, they’ll also inspect the gutters and drain pipes. Any damage spotted will be repaired to ensure that your gutters and drain pipes are in tip-top condition.

Why Should You Choose Our Gutter Cleaning Services?

In fairness, it is possible for you to clean and maintain your gutters. However, the risk of not doing a good enough job is not worth taking.

At the Gutter Pros, we have a team of experienced gutter cleaners ready to assist you. Moreover, we have all the best equipment, and we’ll perform gutter repair if there’s damage. So, instead of worrying about climbing to the gutters, contact us today, and we’ll clean your gutters at an affordable price.

Winter Maintenance Tips for Gutters

As winter in Tennessee and Kentucky sets in, you need to think about preparing your gutters to survive the cold season. A few basic maintenance tips can help you to protect your gutters in the face of rain, storms, and snow. Take a look at the following tips.

1. Clean Gutters for Winter

The Gutter Professionals recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year. One of the best times to clean your gutters is right before the winter season, so that they are empty and ready to stand up to the increased volume of water that might result from winter storms or snow melt.

2. Clean the Roof As Well

In addition to cleaning your gutters in preparation for winter, it is also a good idea to clean the roof as well. Winter rains wash debris from the roof into the gutters, which can cause them to become blocked.

You can attempt to clean your own roof with a power washer, but a better option is to work with a roof cleaning service. Professionals have all the equipment needed to carry out a thorough clean, without taking any unnecessary risks. Climbing up onto your roof is dangerous, so you should avoid doing it and leave it to the professionals instead.

3. Inspect Gutters for Leaks, Holes, Rust, and Corrosion

Once you have cleaned the gutters and water is running freely through the downspouts, the next step is to inspect your gutters for leaks, holes, rust, and corrosion. Pay particular attention to the gutter joints, where corrosion is most likely to cause a leak to develop.

You can temporarily fix leaks in gutters using a gutter patching kit, but often it is better to hire a gutter service to carry out repairs. If your gutters are very badly rusted or damaged, it is best to replace them. The Gutter Professionals can advise you on the best type of gutters to choose as a replacement, which might include copper, vinyl, or aluminium. These options are all less susceptible to rust than cast iron guttering.

4. Check the Gutter Framework

As well as checking the condition of your gutters themselves, it is also important to check the framework that holds them to the roof or siding of your home. If the guttering is coming away from the building, it is important to reattach it so that it is secure.

5. Check the Downspouts As Well

When inspecting your gutters, it is important not to forget about the downspouts, which perform the vital function of carrying water from the gutters down to the drain on the ground. Downspouts can also be affected by corrosion, leaks, rust, and holes. Repair or replace downspouts that are in poor condition.

Check the functioning of your downspouts by looking to see where the runoff from them pools. You can use a downspout extender to improve the positioning of the drainage.

6. Check Again After a Storm

Even if you have checked your gutters carefully before the start of winter, it is still a good idea to check them again after a storm. A major storm can strip leaves, twigs, and even branches from trees, with the result that your gutters end up blocked with debris. Clear this debris away to keep your gutters functioning well.

6. Stay Safe

Gutters are often difficult to access, which can mean that checking them is a hazardous process involving climbing on ladders or climbing onto the roof. Never put your personal safety at risk by doing anything that does not feel completely safe. If you cannot clean or inspect your gutters safely, call The Gutter Professionals. We can meet all your winter gutter maintenance needs.

The Importance of Professional Gutter Cleaning

Gutters are vitally important to protect your home, even more so than many people realize. The number one function of gutters is to take rainwater that falls on your roof, collect it, and divert it safely into areas it can be drained to without causing any damage along the way. When this process is not working the way it should, water damage to your house is sure to happen. What many people don’t realize is the extent of damage that can be done over little periods of time when gutters are not clear of all leaves, debris, and other material clogs the drainage system.

Even little drizzles of water or small rainstorms cause a lot of water to fall onto your rooftop, and this water can add up quickly. If this water cannot be seamlessly collected into a gutter and find its way through the downspout, it will find other ways down to the ground, and this will mean damaging anything that gets in its way. Common things that are damaged by clogged gutters include doors and windows, siding, and even the foundation of the home.

All of these are expensive to fix, but the foundation can suffer the most extensive damage over time. The very stability of the house can be compromised when water eats away at it. This can happen quicker than many people realize, so it is imperative to keep your gutters clear.

It is not uncommon for a homeowner, after a small amount of rain, to find their basement flooded. The reason for this often turns out to be a clogged gutter. People are often surprised at how fast clogs can build up in gutters when not checked on a regular basis, even if they check them occasionally.

Gutter cleanings do not mean just cleaning the inside of the gutters, either. Thorough cleaning means that the outside of the gutter will remain sparkling clean as well. This will maintain the appeal of a house and ensure that it never looks dirty or unpleasant to the eye. When clean, gutters blend into the look of the house and remain unnoticed. However, dirty gutters stick out and draw unwanted attention to the home.

Gutter Cleaning and Lawn Maintenance

Gutters not only protect your house from water damage, but they are also a major component of keeping a lawn looking beautiful. When water is not being diverted to the drainage area, rainwater flows away from the house in an unregulated manner. This means that lawn erosion will happen, and results in large ditches and ravines in your lawn. Once these ditches start forming in your lawn, more erosion follows, and the damage perpetuates itself quickly.

Lawn care is hard work, but when done properly, it makes houses and neighborhoods something to be proud of. There is no sense putting money, time, and effort into keeping a pristine lawn, only to find clogged gutters have caused major damage to it after a single rainstorm.

Gutter Cleaning Using High-Powered Machines

The idea of cleaning a gutter often evokes images of someone on a ladder with gloves on, manually picking out leaves and debris. This kind of gutter cleaning involves a lot of hassle, including finding the right size ladder, spending large amounts of time inspecting the system, and doing all the legwork yourself. Even after all this time, a DIY cleaning does not come close to the efficiency of a professional gutter cleaning.

The Gutter Professionals of the Clarksville, Tennessee, area utilize the latest, high-powered cleaning technologies and expert techniques to make sure that your gutters are thoroughly cleaned and that they stay that way. We use equipment such as high-pressure washers that have every attachment needed to clean out all the nooks and crannies of the gutters and downpipes. We have specialized cleaning agents for whatever type and material your gutters are made out of.

It doesn’t matter what size your gutters are because we specialize in cleaning all gutter sizes. We have all the equipment necessary to get the job done, whether big or small.

Protecting Your Well-Being

Climbing high on a ladder to clean gutters always comes with risk to the average person. Professionals are highly trained in safety when cleaning gutters. To avoid accidents, many people opt to use a professional service instead of trying to clean their gutters themselves. Someone who doesn’t clean gutters often will likely find the process awkward and time-consuming, and then there is a tendency to try to rush the cleaning process. This desire to get the job done quickly without the proper tools can cause accidents to happen.

Gutter Maintenance

Keeping gutters clear of blockage is a key component in preventing water damage to the house and yard, but this may not be enough to keep the integrity of your gutter system intact. Just like every part of your house, your gutters will need repairs or even replacing from time to time. Professional gutter maintenance means that experts will periodically check your whole system for any signs of instability and can foresee problems that may not yet be visible to the average person.

Gutter maintenance also includes monitoring and checking if your gutters need to be replaced. No matter how high quality your gutter system is, there will come a time when it will no longer be able to handle the job of efficient water drainage and will have to be replaced. Professional gutter repair and cleaning companies can help you decide when it is better to invest in new gutters instead of paying for repairs.

Cleaning Different Gutter Types

The Gutter Professionals are experienced in cleaning and maintaining all different gutter types. Each gutter type has its own unique needs and care. Gutter types that are sold in sections have a much higher likelihood of leakage and buildup of debris. In the cases of gutters that are held in place by brackets, they often need extra care to make sure that they are being held onto the roofline without sagging.

Seamless gutters also need close inspection to make sure they are working the way they are supposed to. These types of gutters are more resistant to forming clogs, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have a professional look at them from time to time.

Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance Services We Offer

The Gutter Professionals offer many different services to the Clarksville area. We can stop by for a quick clog removal, a thorough cleaning or maintenance inspection, or to maintain your gutters on a scheduled ongoing basis.

We will always show up with all our own equipment and have everything necessary to get the job done. When you utilize our services, it means that you have no need to worry about ladders. We take care of all that for you. Some of the services we offer include:

The Full Monte

The Full Monte is a thorough cleaning of your gutter system that will leave it clear of all debris, leaves, and anything else that might lead to a clog in the system. However, cleaning isn’t the only part of the process. This service includes a full inspection of your system. This means that if there is any damage, even if hard to see, we will spot it. We will also identify any weak places in the gutter or downpipes so that you won’t be caught off-guard by a failure during a bad rainstorm.

The Storm Plug

The storm plug means that we will make a quick trip to your residence to unclog the gutters after a storm or a sustained amount of rainfall. This process is done efficiently and will not take much time. It’s much easier than trying to do it yourself!

Bi-Annual Cleaning

Bi-Annual Cleaning is one of our most popular services. When signing up in advance for cleaning and maintenance services, you will receive gutter cleaning and maintenance twice a year at a discounted rate. This is the preferred service by many because it means that they do not have to remember to schedule appointments for cleaning and maintenance. It is easy to forget about your gutters when you are busy with your work, family responsibilities, and the other time requirements that result from living your everyday life. It’s easy to forget about the health of your gutters, but if they fail and water floods your basement or otherwise damages your house, you will likely be kicking yourself that you forgot to take preventative measures.

You will never be caught off guard when you’re signed up for bi-annual cleaning. You likely have enough to worry about, and this means that there is one less thing on your list of items a homeowner needs to remember to take care of.

Contact The Gutter Professionals of Clarksville, Tennessee

No matter what your gutter cleaning and maintenance needs are, we are confident that we have the answer for you in the price range you can afford.

The Gutter Professionals are the best experts in gutter cleaning and maintenance in the Clarksville area, and we take pride in our outstanding reputation. We will never charge you for an estimate. We understand that water damage repair is an expense that is unnecessary and quality cleaning and maintenance is a must for our customers to prevent these expenses. Contact us today with any questions or to request an estimate.

Why Gutters Are Important

When installed and functioning correctly, gutters blend in with the aesthetics of your house, and it’s easy to not give them a second thought. However, gutters are vitally important to the health of your house, protecting it from water damage that can be expensive and devastating.

A strong, well-built roof may seem like enough of a defense against rain to keep a house safe, and many new homeowners believe that this will be enough to protect their home from the weather. However, the truth is that even a little drizzle can lead to disaster for a home, and the water from little downfalls can still quickly collect on the roof and lead to damage.

No matter where you live, your house will benefit from gutters. Even people who live in a climate that sees little rain should invest in gutters because even a little water can mean a lot of problems. Anyone from Clarksville knows that Tennessee sees its share of rainstorms every year, so leaving a house without gutters is not an option!

Once water builds up on a roof without gutters, it finds its way to the foundation of the house with surprising force. The structural foundation of your home will be quickly damaged from this water, and structural instability will lead to costly repairs. In worst-case scenarios, a home will suffer irreparable damage from a structure that is no longer able to function properly.

Rainwater not diverted away from the house properly may also lead to expensive damage to the siding, windows, and doors.

A lack of properly functioning gutters is the number one reason for basement flooding. Flooding damages the walls and floors of your basement and will lead to rot and even the growth of dangerous molds. Expensive electrical equipment, irreplaceable family heirlooms, and anything else stored in that basement risks being destroyed. This is not worth it, especially when this all could be avoided by simply installing and maintaining gutters — and letting the professionals handle it.

Your lawn, gardens, and flowerbeds are also protected when a home has professionally installed and maintained gutters. When water has nowhere to go, and cannot be diverted properly by a gutter system, it flows wherever it is able to. The water will find a way down and flow away from your house one way or another, and when not controlled, it can flow away from the house, causing erosion and deep ditches that cut through your lawn. The soil in flower beds is no match for this water flow, and this will not only cause deep ravines but may also take out the flowers with it or destroy their root systems.

Pooling water around your house also provides mosquitos and other pesky bugs a perfect breeding ground. While mosquitos are a nuisance, more and more mosquito-borne illnesses are becoming prevalent in the Clarksville area. It’s best to get rid of all water pooling around your house, just to be safe.

Gutter Types

The Gutter Professionals replace and repair a wide variety of gutters that are commonly found on any type of household. Whether it’s repairing leaks or inefficient drainage to a makeover of the whole system, we are here to help. Below are a few of the gutter types we install, maintain, and repair. It is always advised that you work with a professional to figure out just the right kind that will add to the look of your home while keeping it safe from water.

Half-Round Gutters

Half-Round Gutters are a popular choice for water protection. These gutters are shaped like a tube, but the top portion is open. This means that these gutters will catch the rainwater as it drains off the roof, and help it flow safely through to the places it’s supposed to go. Brackets keep these half-round gutters in places and stabilize them, so they stay balanced and drain the water thoroughly.

Many people feel this type of gutter has an old-style feel to it, and often invokes images from the past. If a simple structure that creates nostalgia for classic American neighborhoods is what you are looking for, this type of gutter will work well with your home.

K-Style Gutters

K-style gutters are a popular choice for a few specific reasons. One is that you can nail these gutters right onto the fascia boards of the roof. The fascia boards are found where the roof connects to the walls of the house, and this is usually referred to as the roofline. This means that, unlike half-round gutters, a K-style gutter does not need a bracket system to stabilize it.

Another reason that k-style gutters are often chosen is that they can deal with more water than a half-round gutter. They have flat bottoms and sides that are angled just right to catch the water and create an efficient water flow. This unique style looks like a K, and that is where they get their name from.

Seamless Gutters

Seamless gutters are a popular choice for homeowners who want a custom look to their home with gutters made specifically for that house. These gutters are called seamless because they are not sold in parts or sections. For this reason, the system is less likely to break down or leak.

These gutter systems are preferred for those homeowners who want gutters installed that usually don’t need cleaning. These gutters are known to be resistant to clogging. Furthermore, these gutters will never sag away from the roofline or become disconnected from your home. However, this does not mean that they don’t need an inspection, and should not be taken for granted.

Because these types of gutters are custom-made, they can be designed in the color you want for the aesthetics of your house and your own personal taste. The Gutter Professionals can design a seamless gutter that is right for your Clarksville home.

Professional gutter removal and replacement is the best defense against water damage to your windows, doors, siding, and foundation. It gives you the peace of mind that your basement is protected from flooding.

Gutter Sizes

Calculating the correct size gutters and downspouts is a complicated process that must take into account the size of the house, the square footage of the area that water will be drained into, and the type of roof. The local climate and average rainfall will also factor into the size of gutter you will need. For example, a Clarksville resident will need a different size gutter system than someone living in drier climates. A professional gutter installation and repair company can help you get the right fit for your home.

Gutter Cleaning

The Gutter Professionals of Clarksville, TN, offer many different gutter cleaning services that will keep your gutters clean of debris and drain all that house-damaging water far away from your home. This includes everything from performing quick stops to remove a clog to a full, thorough cleaning of the gutters that is preventative for future clogs and debris buildup.

When people think of gutter cleaning, they often think about the inside of the gutters and forget that the outside of the gutters needs cleaning, too! Without the outside of the gutters being cleaned, they start to really take away from the beauty of the house as a whole.

Rain gutter guards will usually need professional cleaning to keep functioning the way they should. The Gutter Professionals are able to clean rain gutter guards thoroughly and keep them functioning for many years to come.

Clarksville Gutter Professional Maintenance

Gutter Maintenance

Once water has leaked into your basement, damaging doors and windows, rotting out siding, and hurting the foundation, it is too late to prevent expensive repairs. With professional maintenance, potential gutter problems will be taken care of long before water damage happens. Close inspections for any weak spots in the structures and sections that might need replacing are all part of taking care of your home. The Gutter Professionals maintenance means that you have no need to pull out your ladder and climb up to the roof to do these inspections yourself. Furthermore, our experts may uncover more subtle problems that are often missed by the average homeowner.

The Gutter Professionals offer bi-annual cleaning and maintenance that, when you sign up for in advance, will keep your gutters clean and working at a discounted rate. Twice a year, we will make sure your gutters are working in peak condition without any hassle to yourself. You won’t have to deal with water damage just because you’ve forgotten to make an appointment.

Soil Drainage Installation

Soil draining is an innovative way to stop the erosion of your lawn in its tracks. This can protect your landscaping from costly damage, all with a system that is out of sight. Your lawn will always look its best and be something to be proud of. The Gutter Professionals are experts at installing these systems so that they are not noticeable by even the keenest observer.

Contact The Gutter Professionals Today

The Gutter Professionals is the premier gutter repair, replacement, cleaning, and maintenance company serving the Clarksville area. It is always recommended that gutter maintenance and rainwater drainage is installed and watched over by professionals. It is not worth the risk to utilize less thorough methods, only to have to deal with water damage later. Contact us today for any questions you may have or a free estimate.

Keeping Your Clarksville Home Looking Great With Basic Maintenance

Home maintenance isn’t just about aesthetics: Regular cleaning can reduce unnecessary wear and help you cut back on unnecessary service calls. Whether you feel the urge to perform some Spring Cleaning, are trying to maintain a New Year’s resolution, or are simply in the mood to focus on your Clarksville home, it’s always a good time to check some maintenance elements off your checklist. Here are some simple home maintenance steps to perform on a regular basis.

Rain Gutters

Rain gutters are an essential part of your roof, and they need to be cleaned regularly. At least once a year, make sure to use your hose and wash away any leaves that have collected. Make sure your gutters properly drain, as blockage can damage your gutters and lead to early wear on your roof. Make sure to note if your water pools anywhere after it’s been drained, to look for signs of staining or wood rot.

Inspect Shingles-Clarksville Roofing

Inspect Your Shingles

Similar to gutters, shingles provide important protection for your roof. Take a look at your shingles on occasion, especially if you’ve experienced heavy winds or snow. Even seemingly minor shingle damage can lead to rot and potential water incursions in your home, which can cause mold. Shingle replacements are far cheaper than the problems damaged or missing shingles can cause.

Clean Windows and Screens

Windows generally don’t need to be cleaned frequently, but the process is fairly simple and serves as an easy way to upgrade your home’s look. Screens, however, can become damaged due to neglect. Take out your screens, give them a thorough wash, and patch any damage that’s occurred. Before reinstalling them, clean your window frames while they’re easy to access.

Set Your HVAC Filter Schedule

Air conditioning and furnace filters need regular replacement. Look in your manuals to find out how frequently replacements are needed, and make sure to mark your calendar to ensure you have a replacement filter ready when it’s needed. If you’re overdue for a replacement, make sure to pick up a filter promptly to ensure your HVAC system is operating efficiently and isn’t wearing down prematurely.

Clean and Inspect Your Deck and Fences

Wooden decks and fences need to be cleaned on occasion to avoid staining and rot. In addition, proper sealing is often required for pressure-treated wood. Look out for signs of early rot so you can address the problem as soon as possible. In most cases, resealing is fairly easy to perform on your own, and it can lead to a much longer deck lifespan.

Flush Your Water Heater

Over time, sediment builds up at the bottom of your hot water heater, reducing its contact with the heating element and potentially causing water flow problems. Make sure to flush your water heater at least once a year, and be sure to follow safe guidelines to avoid scalding and other injuries.

Oil Your Garage Door Tracks

Most of us have experienced a squeaky garage door at some point. Fortunately, the solution is simple: Oil the tracks. Doing so helps you avoid annoying squeaking, but it also makes for easier operation and helps prevent further problems from developing.

Repair Your Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping tends to wear down over time, so make sure to inspect it regularly. Finding out your weatherstripping is compromised during a rainstorm can leave you scrambling to mitigate damage, and damaged weatherstripping can raise your heating and cooling bills significantly. Fortunately, it’s generally easy to replace.

Clarksville home-basic maintenance-touch up walls

Touch Up Your Walls

Chipped paint and minor scratches generally don’t cause damage, but they do diminish the look of your home. Check for signs of damage and perform touch-up work as needed. If necessary, set aside some time to repaint your walls.

Inspect Fireplace Dampers

Because fireplaces tend to go unused during warmer months, they become a popular place for animals. Birds, in particular, find fireplace dampers to be a great place to nest. Before using your fireplace, make sure to inspect the damper and remove any debris that’s accumulated.

Tree Trimming

Tree branches inevitably grow, and branches that contact your home or wires can cause a number of problems. Set a schedule to check out your tree branches on occasion, as they’re often easier to trim well before they reach your home. Note that tree trimming using a ladder is notoriously dangerous, so consider calling an expert and be extra cautious around power lines.

Scheduling home maintenance is important, but there’s plenty you can do on your own. Set your seasonal cleaning schedule and stick with it to enjoy an attractive home and to keep your Tennessee home in excellent condition.

What Causes The Water Drip Stains On The Gutter Exterior?

Often we get asked by our customers, “why are there drip stain marks under my gutter?”

In many instances, water damage to your exterior is a serious problem that can be averted, but otherwise it’s just an inevitable part of general wear and tear. In this article we explain a few examples.

Most externally hung gutters will eventually have water run marks on the underside of the outer edge and also on the fascia. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a leak. This drip staining of the gutter exterior, can happen even if your gutters are perfectly hung, and even with correct downpipe placement and a gutter guard in place.

On aluminum and steel gutters that are powder coated, this will become a deep hardwater stain that often cannot be removed. But don’t be alarmed, it doesn’t mean there’s any real structural damage to the gutter, it’s just annoying to look at. Hardwater stains are the build up of waterborne minerals that are left behind after water dries. If you look at a flat surface under a microscope, you’ll see that most flat surfaces are not actually flat; they have tiny little crater like holes. The minerals and dirt in water are stuck inside the little craters when the water dries on the “flat” surface. This creates a hard water stain.

Unfortunately, water can get in to places where we don’t want it to be. Water can taper across horizontal surfaces, and even sheet upwards across upward sloping surfaces. A good example of the phenomenon of water tapering is an ordinary glass of water. We all know that when we are drinking from a glass of water, for some annoying reason, we end up with water underneath the glass and then on the table where we place the glass. This is why coffee tables have coasters. Water finds its way to the underside of the glass bottom. During rainfall some of the water hits the outer lip of your gutter and drips downwards.

Next time it rains, don’t be so worried if your gutters are a little bit moist on the underside, it happens. But with that said, there’s a fine line between normal moisture build-up and potential damage. If you are experiencing water sheeting or flooding due to blocked gutters, or blocked gutter guard, call us today on (931) 272-2108. We have many solutions for overflowing gutters, we can also conduct minor tweaks to existing gutter guards, in order to minimize the issue of water spill-over in guttering. Our gutter and fascia cleaning service will make the gutters look new again! Contact the Clarksville gutter cleaning company today.

Gutters And Downspouts Need Routine Maintenance To Function Properly

As much as we may want for things to last forever without needing to be cleaned up or repaired, this merely does not occur. You take your vehicle in for oil modifications and repairs. You fix things around your house when they break down or get used out. This is merely a part of life, and your gutters and downspouts are no different.

What Causes Gutters To Clog?

The main cause of rain gutter clogging is your home’s proximity to trees. All year, and then more intensely in autumn, trees shed leaves. Some leaves find their way onto roofs and from there, into the gutters and downspouts. The clogging is quicker and more troublesome for houses that have flat or near-flat roofs.

Other common issues that cause gutters and downspouts to clog:

  • Drainage Problems – Consider that a 30-foot section of standard five-inch gutter can hold up to about 36 gallons of water at one time. All of that water is flowing toward one (or sometimes two) two-by-three inch downspout openings, then down past one or two downspout elbows before exiting the gutter system. Even in a moderate rainstorm, the large quantity of flowing water is likely to back up to some degree, which allows time for solid debris to be deposited along gutters or in downspouts.
     
  • Not Enough Gutters and Downspouts – If there are not enough gutters on the sides of your home, the rainwater may overflow. This can overwork your gutters and downspouts, damaging them.
     
  • A Decaying Roof – More and more over time, shingle granules will come off of your roof and begin to clog your gutters.

Gutter Downspout Elbow Clogs

Did you know that gutter elbows are an important part of gutter downspouts and gutter leaders because elbows enable gutter installation to be “tight” to the house or building.

However, gutter elbows can sometimes create their own clogging issues. Gutter downspout elbows are designed to bend and curve and this can cause dirt, shingle granules and other debris to get caught up. When gutter elbows get clogged they must be cleaned to ensure proper water drainage and avoid costly repairs to your home. Cleaning downspouts at a multi-story level can be time consuming and dangerous.

What if this task of cleaning high downspout elbows could be severely limited or even stopped all together?

The most common gutter elbow used has a 75 degree slope. This is a pretty severe turn that can catch and hold debris. If your gutter downspout elbows are causing you routine problems then consider changing them out to 45 degree elbows. 45 degree elbows are a much smoother turn that is far less likely to catch and hold debris from your roof.

If you desire your gutters and downspouts to carry out the task that they were designed to do, then you must ensure that they get regular maintenance carried out on them. When you stop to believe about how little it really costs to have a Hopkinsville, KY gutter cleaning company come out to your home, it must be clear that disregarding your gutters and letting them fall under a state of disrepair is an expensive error. Don’t let your gutters and downspouts cause you worry. The Gutter Professionals can keep your gutters in top shape, quickly and affordable.

The Importance Of Gutter Maintenance

One of the responsibilities of owning a house or any building is maintenance. Taking care of the gutters can be a dreaded (sometimes even forgotten) task that no one wants to take care of themselves. Thankfully there are professional cleaners and gutter technicians who deal with gutter repair, maintenance, and cleaning.

The Importance Of Gutters

Gutters may seem like a pain and a simple addition to your house, but in reality, they do a lot for you to prevent damage to your property. Their main purpose is to divert water away from your building that could otherwise cause expensive damage. Your siding, basement, foundation, and landscaping all benefit from the simple fact that you have gutters.

Erosion from water can be disastrous on any house. Siding that is exposed can start to rot through, and paint that was once pristine will start to fade. Homes located in rainy areas can even begin to grow mold and mildew without the protection of gutters. Your gardens and yard work are susceptible to heavy rain or washes too if you are not careful. Even your basement can be flooded, or worse—your foundation can shift because of improper water flow around the house.

In the long run, gutters can limit the effects that erosion has on important locations while improving water flow to prevent any flooding or foundational problems. That is why regular maintenance to prevent drooping or damage from occurring is important to the longevity of your home. They might not seem like much, but Clarksville gutters do a lot to protect property from damage.

Why Maintain Gutters

Maintaining gutters is fairly easy and doing so regularly can prevent home damage too. While the gutters themselves offer protection from erosion, they are susceptible to catching leaves and other debris that might get carried over during a heavy rain. The accumulated weight of this debris can cause significant damage not only to the gutters themselves but also to your Tennessee home.

Gutters are placed directly on the edge of your roof, meaning the overhanging sections must support all of the weight the gutters accumulate. It might not seem like much, but weight and erosion can cause a strain on your roof potentially resulting in serious damage. If a gutter has too much weight on it, or goes too long without maintenance, it could take part of your roof with it when it falls.

Another issue that plagues gutters is clogging. Although it is unsurprising, debris can easily clog gutter drains, forcing water to pool on the roof and in the gutter before pouring over the edge. When this happens, you might as well not have gutters in the first place, as the water is draining where it would have if they weren’t even there.

Step to Take Care of Gutters

When you are taking care of your gutters, it is important to recognize the point at which they need work. You shouldn’t let them go for long if you realize that something is wrong with them.

If left alone, a simple problem can turn into a major water leak or erosion issue. That is why servicing your gutters is important either on your own or by hiring a professional gutter company.

Making sure that your gutters are in proper working order should be a priority. Repair, maintenance, and cleaning is necessary to ensure that there will be no serious issue in the lifetime of your gutters.

Common Causes of Gutter Damage

Gutter damage typically happens because of a lack of care, but there are extreme cases where weather has played a key role in the damaging of gutters. Ice is particularly bad for gutters of any kind. Not only are the bolts that hold them in place exposed to the cold, but the heavy weight and forming ice can completely ruin gutters. Ice expands when it forms, forcing the gutters to expand with them. There are some covers that you can place on your gutters to avoid worst case scenarios in winter, but if you are caught unprepared, you can face catastrophic damage.

To spot potential issues before they arise here are 5 non-weather-related ways gutters get damaged:

  • Blockage in the gutters
  • Blockage in the pipes
  • Incorrect installation
  • Dislodged joints
  • Inadequate pipes

Most of these can easily be fixed, so long as you know what to look for before it happens. Blockages should be cleared as soon as possible and many joints can easily be tightened back into place.

Clarksville Gutter Professionals

If you are in need of gutter maintenance, repair, or cleaning, The Gutter Professionals is the perfect place to look. We have professionals who can service your Tennessee or Kentucky home quickly and without delay, protecting your property from the potential damages neglected gutters can bring. Contact us to receive a free estimate on your gutter servicing needs.