What do you really think about gutters? If you’re like many people, your gutters only cross your mind when you hear dripping – or the torrential downpour of water flooding your balcony or patio due to gutters that are overflowing. What myths do you believe about gutters, and what should you consider when you’re maintaining or installing them at your home? 

1. It’s Easy to Install Gutters 

If you’re installing your own gutters, there is a lot that you need to know. For instance, did you know that if you don’t have enough brackets, your gutters could sag and clog? Did you realize that gutters need to be at a slight angle in order to send the water down to the downspout? If you don’t know how to install your gutters, you could be at risk of clogged or damaged gutters.

2. Set Them Up and They Work Forever

Gutters are not high-maintenance, but they do require maintenance in order to continue to work properly. For instance, if you don’t check your gutters more than once a year, you could miss the fact that a windstorm has knocked sticks into your gutters or that your gutters have been hit by a branch and warped. This can lead to problems with your gutters, siding, and even your home foundation if water starts to flow down the side of your house. You need to watch your gutters and make sure that they do not get clogged or damaged.

3. It’s Simple to Clean Your Gutters 

According to a study published by the National Institute of Health, ladder falls are a significant cause of injury every year, particularly for older people. What can cause ladder injuries? Cleaning your gutters is one cause. Often, gutters get clogged during the cold, wet months of the year. This is the time when it’s more difficult to scale a ladder and clean out those gutters.

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4. You Don’t Need a Gutter Guard

If you want to avoid ladder injuries, you can hire someone to clean your gutters, but that cost can add up over time. It can be practical instead to add a gutter guard to your home – or better yet, you can purchase a new gutter and a gutter guard at the same time. 

5. All Gutters and Gutter Guards Are the Same

Gutters and gutter guards vary in quality and functionality for your home. They are not all the same, just as no two types of cars are exactly the same. For example, you can choose between gutters that are seamless or sectional. Sectional gutters are less expensive, but there are more connections between the pieces of gutter. This means there is more potential for leaks and rust, and there are more places where debris can catch. Over time, gutters can warp and sag at these connector points as well. Seamless gutters might be a higher initial investment, but they do not have as many potential problem areas. 

Not all gutter guards work as expected. If you choose a gutter insert, it could filter your water for a while, but then it could clog with debris on top of or inside the gutter insert. This is a problem because you are left with the same issue as before. Now you need to clean or replace your gutter guard rather than your gutters. By choosing a ribbed, nose-forward design, you will find that the water spreads out, slows down, and slips into the gutter while leaves move off the edge and onto the ground. You’ll never have to clean your gutters again. 

At Harry Helmet, we want your home to run smoothly. Talk with us about your options for gutter and gutter guard installation, and schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud