It’s definitely a lot easier to maintain your home’s eavestroughs when it’s warm out, but the winter is still a time when this important component of your home should still get some attention. After all, if your eavestroughs are in poor condition, a host of issues can ensue as a result.

Properly maintained eavestroughs have the distinct responsibility of making sure that water is diverted away from your home and that your house is adequately protected against water damage. Although it’s important for your eavestroughs to be maintained year-round, there’s no reason to skimp on winter care. In fact, paying some attention to them over the colder months of the year will ensure that your eavestrough system functions properly throughout the year.

Here are some tips for maintaining your eavestrough throughout the winter.

Clear Debris From the Eavestroughs

One of the more obvious ways to tend to your eavestroughs is to make sure they’re free of debris. This can include dead leaves from the autumn season before, or even solid ice blocks. If you’re comfortable climbing a ladder, all you’ll need is a pair of gloves and a scoop or trowel to get the job done. You can even use a power washer if necessary.

Make sure to pay attention to corners and seams where dead leaves and other debris is more likely to accumulate. In order to prevent any more debris from settling in your eavestroughs, consider adding a cover to avoid any settling.

Trim Nearby Tree Branches

You’ll make your job of cleaning out your eavestroughs more difficult and frequent if you have nearby tree branches that are constantly dropping leaves. As such, be sure to trim your tree branches, as well as bushes and shrubs. They can grow quickly, which means you may have to keep on top of the tree trimming in order to minimize the number of leaves that can make their way from the tree to your eavestroughs.

Check the Seams and Anchors

The seams and anchors are particularly vulnerable to leaks, so be sure to take the time to inspect these specific areas and make sure that they are firmly affixed to your home. If you notice any gaps, that’s a problem that needs to be rectified right away.

Check the Downspouts

Your eavestroughs are important for collecting water from precipitation, but the downspouts have an equally important job of sending water away from your home. There’s no sense in collecting the water if it’s just going to pool at the base of your home. If that happens, water may seep into your home and do damage, and the foundation may even be compromised. Make sure that the downspout is still in good condition and that it redirects water a minimum of 10 feet away from your home’s foundation. 

Use Heat Tape

Heat tape that is installed on eavestroughs can help to melt ice and even prevent ice from forming at all. As you may already be aware, ice in eavestroughs can cause blockages, which can, therefore, compromise the eavestroughs’ ability to clear out water. If blockages occur, the entire system can be compromised.

With heat tape, you can help to minimize the ice that forms in your eavestroughs and avoid clogging and subsequent damage to the system and your home. 

Hire the Pros

When in doubt, be sure to call the professionals in eavestrough maintenance, repair, and installation. This really is your best bet, as it will ensure that the job will be done properly and thoroughly. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that nothing will be missed and that your eavestroughs will be in prime working condition throughout the winter.