3 Reasons Why You Need Gutter Screens
Tired of spending time on your roof cleaning your gutters? Cleaning your gutters is inconvenient and can even be dangerous at times. But it's a necessary part of home ownership. If you don't clean your gutters, debris can get inside and form blockages that prevent your water from draining correctly. That can cause damage to your gutters, siding, roof, and even your home's foundation.
The good news is you have an alternative to cleaning debris out of your gutters a couple of times a year. You could install gutter screens on your gutters. As their name suggests, gutter screens are small screens that fit over the top of your gutters. They have tiny holes that allow water to flow into the gutters while keeping sticks, leaves, and other debris out. You can buy them in bulk and install them on the gutters all over your home. You can also hire a service to do the gutter screen installation for you.
Below are a few reasons why it makes sense to install gutter screens:
It can prevent fires.
Dried leaves and brush sitting in a gutter can be like a tinder box ready to ignite. All it takes is one spark for that dried debris to catch fire. A gutter screen prevents this because it keeps leaves and sticks out of your gutter. They don't pile up in there, which means your house isn't lined with flammable debris. It doesn't eliminate the risk of a fire, but it certainly removes elements that can contribute to fire and reduces the risk of a fire spreading.
They keep animals away.
Leaves and sticks aren't the only things that can clog your gutters. So too can small animals looking for a place to hide from the elements. Gutters are popular spots for birds, mice, and other small animals to hide. Birds often build nests in gutters, which can be a big problem. The nests block your gutters and cause clogs, but you also likely don't want to harm any animals by removing the nest.
Gutter screens prevent this from happening because they don't allow animals to get in the gutters in the first place. There are no nests or other structures to deal with.
They prevent ice damage.
One of the most important functions of a gutter system is to drain water away from the house so it doesn't cause damage. This is especially true in the winter months. Ice can be very harmful to your home's structure.
Gutter screens prevent clogs that could cause water to back up. In cold weather, a clog can easily turn into an ice block. With gutter screens, you don't have any risk of ice in your gutters because the water is free to keep moving through the drains. It doesn't sit in one spot long enough to freeze.
Gutter screens can be an effective and affordable way to protect your home and your gutters. You can find them at hardware stores or through a local gutter service.