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Reasons to Clean Your Rain Gutters
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Water doesn't drain from the downspouts when
leaves and other debris clog at the elbows
and downspouts, causing overflow. Cleaning
this is an easy, do-it-yourself job. Simply
insert a hose from the bottom and stuff the
opening around the hose with rags so that
all the water's force goes upward toward
whatever's blocking the pipe.
When water
overflows from gutter and drips from joints,
the leaks can be sealed with caulk. There's
no substitute for cleaning out your gutter
system in the spring and fall. Your gutters
and downspouts direct rain and snowmelt away
from the foundation of the house. When your
gutter is clogged with leaves and needles,
the water can overflow and collect near the
house, seeping through the foundation walls
and into the basement.
Strong winds
can loosen and blow the mineral granules off
asphalt shingles. These can drain into your
gutters and downspouts and clog them up.
Strainers and Gutter Guards
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Leaf strainers and wire mesh don't always
work. They're designed to keep debris out of
the gutter, but the leaves may cling to the
screening or the strainer, so they also may
keep water from the gutters, essentially
negating the effectiveness of your drainage
system.
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