Do Clean Rain Gutters Cut Your Bills?
Cleaning your rain gutters isn’t the first thing to come to mind when you ask about energy efficiency. Yet this one simple chore can lower your energy bills when the rain clouds gather. But what are the benefits of clean gutters? More importantly, could it help offset high Ohio energy bills? Let’s explore why clean rain gutters can lower your bills.
What Are Rain Gutters For?
To start, rain gutters direct water away from your home. Water hitting your roof flows into the gutters and then into downspouts where it empties into your lawn. However, moving water further away from your home and spreading it out can prevent damage to your home itself. In fact, most wet basement problems can be solved just by moving rain run off away from your home.
Preventing water from collecting closely around your home can also damage the foundation over time. Such damage can affect plumbing and lead to unstable walls. On top of this, foundation repairs are expensive and can cost, on average, between $2,000 – $8000.
But that’s not all.
Rainwater that works into your roof can leak into your attic. This can ruin your home’s insulation. And, if you’re paying high price to compare electricity rates, then your heating and cooling could cost more money as it becomes less efficient.
As you can guess, clogged or broken gutters make these issues more likely. And this could be a disaster, especially as we enter the spring storm season. So make sure you take time to clean your gutters.
Clean Gutter Tips
Trees can drop sap, leaves, and sticks into your gutters. So, rain gutters should be cleared of debris twice a year. Over time, this can block the flow of water from your gutters and aways from your home. Also, the added weight on your gutters could tear out the mounting brackets, damaging your home’s outside finish. Such blockages can also invite mold, mildew, and wood rot. Even worse, these can become breeding grounds for pests, like mosquitos.
Similarly, prune branches that dangle over your roof and gutters. During heavy storms, these can rub against gutters and break or misalign them.
Of course, you can hire a professional to take care of cleaning your gutters. But if you prefer DIY work, then here’s what you’ll need:
- Non-slip shoes
- Safety glasses or goggles
- Sturdy ladder with a stabilizer bar
- Work gloves
- Bucket for debris
- Gutter scoop or trowel
- Small brush for scrubbing
You might also need a plumber’s snake for tough clogs in downspouts.
Do Gutter Guards Work?
Gutter guards are a great solution to most of the problems with tall trees near the home. They can block most common debris without getting in the way of the water flowing away from your home. These additions come in two types; aluminum and vinyl. Aluminum guards can last up to 20-30 years compared to 10-20 years for vinyl guards. However, vinyl guards are cheaper and are considered easier to install.
Protect Your Gutters, Save More Energy
It’s the perfect time to check your gutters with storm season right around the corner. Clean gutters will keep water from damaging your home and help keep your home as energy efficient as possible.
You can also find savings by shopping for cheap electricity rates at https://www.ohenergyratings.com. We’re also your best source for tips and news that could affect your bills.