You’re getting frustrated with your gutters. They warp, they sag, and they have unsightly stripes. Worst of all, they regularly fill up with leaves, blossoms, and other debris. What can you do to turn your tale of gutter woe into a tale of happily-ever-after? Before you leap into gutter replacement, consider these alternatives.

1. Support Your Gutters

Those warped and sagging gutters could use a bit of support. Gutter hangers, spikes, and brackets are the support system for your gutters. If you have warped, saggy gutters, take a look at the structure beneath your gutters. Make sure that it’s connected to your gutters and not corroded. Look at the number of hangers or brackets you have to ensure that your gutters have enough support to operate with an optimal slope, helping water move easily from place to place.

2. Clean Your Gutters

If your gutters are warped, it could be due to poor installation or poor cleaning. If your gutters have the wrong pitch or aren’t attached properly at the corners, water and debris can collect, making it more difficult for your gutters to remain straight. Instead, they sag and warp. Scheduling regular gutter cleaning prevents those gutters from sagging and warping, so you have to replace them less frequently.

3. Cover Your Gutters

If you’re one of the vast majority of people who aren’t fond of getting on a ladder to remove gutter sludge, then adding a gutter cover will improve both your gutters and your happiness. A gutter cover prevents debris from accumulating in your gutters. This means that you no longer have to get up on a ladder to clean your gutters. Without all of that extra debris, your gutters will not warp and sag as easily. You’ll have less water pooling and corrosion due to the fine sediment, and the exterior of your gutters won’t need as much cleaning because water will stay in the gutter instead of spilling over the edge. While gutter covers are an investment, they will save you time spent cleaning and money spent repairing and replacing your gutters.

4. Heat Your Gutters

What happens to your gutters during the winter months? If you live in a snowy, icy climate, your gutters’ biggest nemesis during the winter is ice. Ice can build up in your gutters, and worst of all, it can back up into your roofing, causing ice dams that damage your roofing and cause it to leak.

Ice is heavy, so it causes your gutters to sag, and as it expands into ice, it warps your gutters as well. When the weather gets warmer, ice sits in your gutters, melting slowly and causing water to back up onto the roof or spill over the edge of the gutter.

If you live in a place where snow and ice abound, try a gutter heating system. This gentle heat will melt snow and ice, allowing water to flow into your gutters year round and extending the longevity of your gutters and your roof.

When you’re looking for gutter solutions, contact Harry Helmet. Since 1981, we’ve worked with families to protect their homes, and we’d be delighted to work on yours. Whether you’re considering gutter replacement or thinking about ways to extend the of your gutters, contact us today.

Written by Del Thebaud