With the fall in full swing there is no question that the winter months are just around the corner.
This makes fall a perfect time of year to get your home ready for the winter weather. The temperature will only be dropping more as we move further into the season so, it is important to get your home prepared now.
Sometimes it takes more effort than others to get a home ready for winter. This is because there are many components involved in winterizing your home.
Things like having your water heater serviced and your septic tank pumped are both very important parts of winterizing your plumbing system.
However, one task that every homeowner must put on their list – no matter how difficult or easy it is to do – is to get your rain gutters cleaned out and repaired, if necessary.
This might seem like a task that is as far from your plumbing system as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
However, your rain gutters are actually a very important part of your plumbing and irrigation system.
When the rain comes off of your roof, it is collected in your rain gutters and then travels out of the downspouts.
If there are clogs or damage and the water starts to collect – your basement will soon become flooded with buckets of rainwater. This leads to serious damage for all of your building materials and could cause long-term water damage.
Here are some tips for cleaning out your gutters;
- Lay down a sheet of plastic that runs underneath the section of gutter that you are cleaning out.
- Put on your protective equipment; including gloves, goggles, and boots
- Carefully climb a ladder – make sure to have someone spot you
- Use a small shovel or garden trowel to dig out the leaves, sticks, and debris and get your gutters clear of any blockages
- Use the garden hose to rinse your gutters out and make sure the water comes all the way out the downspout
Having clean gutters is an important part of making sure that your home is protected against flooding and water damage due to the heavy rains of the fall and winter months. Use these tips to get your house prepared!
If you have a Fort Worth plumbing, heating or AC need call your local, licensed and family operated company, call Hawk PHAC!