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Snow, ice, and wind can turn your holiday season into a disaster. In turn, it can chip away paint, dent your exterior and ruin your gutters. Luckily, we have compiled a list of maintenance guidelines that will protect your gutters during the worst winter weather.

Remove Debris From Gutters

A simple solution to gutter damage is routinely removing leaves and other debris from your gutters. Keeping your gutters free of clogs will have them working correctly, preventing a host of water-related problems, like overflows and basement flooding. Also, consider installing a de-icing system to ensure no ice dams will develop in the extreme cold.

Check for Structural Damage

Your gutters are important to your exterior. Be mindful of any discoloration, rotting, or other water damage. Fix any cracks or gaps in your gutters as quickly as possible to save on costly repairs in the future.

Keep Surrounding Areas Clear

It also matters how well-kept the surrounding areas of your gutters are. Prune trees to prevent branches from scraping your roof and leaves from falling into your gutters. In the winter, snow and ice can form on tree branches, causing them to crash down and collapse on your gutters.

Invest in Gutter Guards

Gutter guards are designed to prevent leaves from accumulating in the gutters and causing clogs. Not only can this protection system promote the healthy flow of water through your gutters and downspouts, ensuring runoff is effectively drained away from your home, but it also helps alleviate ice damming in the bitingly cold months.

Bring in the pros to minimize gutter cleaning and maintenance. Gutter Helmet® installs some of the best gutter protection systems in the business. Just give us a call today at (800) 824-3772 or fill out this contact form to request a free, no-obligation estimate.

Mold and mildew can negatively affect the indoor air quality of your home and cause health risks to its residents. One of the easiest ways to beat this growth in the winter months is by performing preventative maintenance. Gutter Helmet® shares some tips here.

Repair Leaks in the Roof

Mold can grow and spread at a fast pace. The longer you put off patching up a leak in the roof, the more likely you are to experience mold and the damage that comes with it. So at the first sign of a leak, call a roofer to fix it. Otherwise, you could pay for mold remediation and other costly repairs.

Keep the Flooring Dry

In rooms where moisture is an issue, use area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. This type of washable flooring can be particularly beneficial in entryways where moisture from the outside can quickly cause the growth of mold. In case you do have carpeting to the door, make sure you vacuum the area regularly to keep it dry.

Use Exhaust Fans

Steam in the bathroom and kitchen produces copious amounts of moisture. Turn on the exhaust fans, including the one in the oven’s hood, for 20 to 30 minutes after taking a shower or cooking to minimize the formation of condensation in these rooms.

Clean Your Gutters

Clogs in the gutters can cause water to overflow or back up to the roof where it can leak into the home. This can cause the growth of mold on the ceiling and walls. By staying on top of gutter cleaning and maintenance, you can ensure that runoff effectively drains from your home.

Gutter Helmet installs gutter protection systems to minimize the need for gutter cleaning and maintenance. Give us a call at (800) 824-3772 or fill out this contact form to request a free estimate.

Dirty and clogged gutters are a recurring issue during fall. Spending an entire day getting rid of the mess is no one’s idea of a good time, which is why most homeowners will try to find an easier and more convenient gutter cleaning alternative. Some will most likely claim that gutter vacuums are exactly that, but it pays to read up on them more. Here are some of the pros and cons of using gutter vacuums to clean your gutters:

Why You Should Consider Them

A gutter vacuum resembles a standard home vacuum, except it’s designed to extract large debris from your gutters. It generally comes in wet/dry models so it can easily pull out both wet and dry materials from the gutters without damaging them. What makes these vacuums good is the fact that they won’t require you to climb any ladders or scoop out the debris with your hands. That’s because gutter vacuum kits usually come with extensions, allowing you to reach and clean your gutters even with your feet planted firmly on the ground. This makes the task safer and less stressful to do.

Why You Should Reconsider Them

Gutter vacuums are not without downsides. For one thing, they’re more effective at extracting loose debris. It may not be possible to use a gutter vacuum to draw out debris that is already stuck at the bottom of the gutters. To prevent this, you’ll need to vacuum your gutters more frequently, which means spending more time and effort on a task you’d rather just avoid. And there is a way to avoid frequent gutter cleaning. 

Pick the Much Better Alternative

Gutter Helmet® of Northern Minnesota has got you covered. We offer high-quality Gutter Helmet® gutter guards that are more effective than vacuums at keeping your system clean and clog-free. They come with a patented nose-forward design that stops leaves and other loose debris from ending up inside the gutters in the first place. Instead, they are shed to fall harmlessly to the ground, allowing rainwater to drain smoothly and efficiently through the system. 

Get Started on Your Gutter Helmet® Installation

Keeping your gutters clean with gutter guards is the way to go. Compared to gutter vacuums, our Gutter Helmet guards have no drawbacks — just benefits that make them a worthwhile investment for every homeowner. Get in touch with us by calling (866) 937-3508 or filling out this contact form. We proudly serve homeowners in Duluth, MN, and other areas in St. Louis County.

Gutter protection systems such as gutter screens and gutter guards provide efficient filtration and safeguard against water damage. If you choose the wrong system to install over your gutters, it could invite all sorts of problems. Here are some of them.

Debris Buildup

Fallen leaves, pine needles, and other small debris can enter through the gutter cover and build a mat of mulch as time goes by. This debris buildup can be difficult to remove, allowing seeds to take hold. Some covers that install below the roof edge can also provide a surface where debris can collect and hold moisture that can rot the fascia.

Overshoot

During heavy rainfall, fast-moving runoff can run past the gutter cover and rot window sills, erode foundations, or wash away foliage. Your gutter protection system should be able to effectively handle the volume of water your roof receives during harsh weather conditions with no overshoot.

Substandard Quality

Sheet metal covers can be easily damaged by a ladder or a falling tree branch, while expanded screens can collapse under excessive debris load. Gutter Helmet® gutter guards are made of durable but lightweight aluminum. Their tensile strength and ribbed surfaces can withstand powerful winds and heavy snow loads.

Pest Infestation

Open and recurved gutter protection systems can invite insects, birds, rodents, and other pests that can enter your attic and wreak havoc on your home. When you work with a reputable gutter guard contractor, you can expect the installation to seal the gutter and fascia entirely so that even the smallest insect will not infiltrate your gutters.

Gutter Helmet installs industry-leading gutter protection systems. Our commitment to product innovation has made us the leading name among American gutter guard companies. Contact us today at (800) 824-3772 or fill out this contact form to request a free quote.

To see fallen leaves around your home property is a big sign that the colder months have already begun. Of course, this also means it’s time to clear them off your yard before winter starts. It can be a tiring chore even if you’re using the right equipment, but it’s still necessary to do so to keep your property clean and well-maintained. Be sure not to forget your roof when you get rid of those leaves because they can lead to several issues that may affect its performance. 

Investing in a reliable gutter protection system is a great way to keep fallen leaves off your gutters, but that doesn’t mean you can allow them to accumulate on the rest of your roof. 

Why Fallen Leaves on Your Roof Isn’t Ideal

Fallen leaves are usually dry by the time they sit on the roof’s surface. However, they can still collect moisture as the temperatures get lower during the season. When this happens, they can get soggy and form clusters in each corner of your roof. They can also get damp when it rains, which affects your roof’s asphalt shingles. The moisture collected from the leaves can also seep through the surface, causing internal mold growth and rot damage to the inner wooden components. This ruins the roof’s structural integrity as it leaks into your attic and ceiling.

Wet leaves can also become as heavy as snowfall, and the added weight can cause roof sagging. This can compromise the inner roofing structure if left unaddressed. The leaves and other debris can also clog your gutters, causing water to pool and back up in some areas. You’ll end up with a costly roof and gutter repair if they’re not cleaned properly.

Preventing Roof Damage

One of the most effective ways to prevent roof damage from fallen leaves is to clear them out before they start to accumulate. You may have to clean your gutters regularly to prevent fallen leaves from forming into clogs. Consider a few preventive measures as well such as trimming some of the branches hanging near or above your roof to prevent leaves from falling and getting blown over to your roof’s surface.

You should also invest in a gutter protection system that keeps the leaves off your gutters and makes cleaning less tedious. Just make sure they’re installed by a top professional among gutter guard companies! Call Gutter Helmet® Systems of Alabama today at (866) 598-7525 to get a free estimate. You can also fill out our online contact form to get started. We serve residents in Alabama, including Chelsea and the surrounding areas.