Do you have sizeable repairs to make to your gutters this spring? Sometimes the problems catch you off-guard, or sometimes you’re not surprised at all because you’ve been putting off an issue that you’ve known about for months. There are a number of different things that could be wrong with your gutters this time of year.

Depending on how long you’ve owned your home or had gutters, you may never have experienced a season where gutter trouble was a real issue. Over enough time, however, these issues can rear their ugly head and you will need to make some serious repairs. In case you’re not familiar, here are 4 gutter issues that will require repair:

They could be:

1. Leaky

Leaky gutters could be a result of gutters that have become disconnected from each other or from the downspouts. If this is the case, the fix is simply to re-connect wherever the leak exists. The other main cause of leaks is a crack, and this is more serious. Fixing a cracked gutter requires a sealing agent, or purchasing new gutters entirely.

2. Clogged

There are two main causes to clogged gutters. The first is that too much debris has built up in the gutters because they are unprotected. The second reason gutters could be clogged is if they are sagging, and are therefore clogged with water. When gutters lose their slight pitch from too much weight or loose nails, water flow ceases. Water will always be coming in, but in this case, it will not be moving out.

3. Disconnected

Gutters that are detaching from the roof become an issue if ignored. Clearly, if that pattern continues, it’s only a matter of time before they are detached completely and your gutters are lying on the ground.

This problem is normally the result of too much pressure from snow and ice during the winter or too much debris during the fall or spring. In order to fix this problem, the nails holding the gutters in place will have to be nailed back in, potentially into new holes if the old holes are worn out.

4. Fallen

This is what happens when disconnected gutters are ignored. There is also the case where a heavy storm or fallen branch knocks a gutter clean off the house. Regardless of how it happens, you know you need major repair, because until gutters are back in place, water will cease to flow away from the house. Anything that might be in that area – deck, patio furniture, plants, etc. – will be subject to damage from the water the gutters are not corralling.

These problems vary in severity, and each requires a different solution. All 4 of these issues require attention and repair. If left ignored, each of these issues can result in damage to your home.

What are the outdoor chores that you need done this season that your busy schedule is not agreeing with?

After a long winter that carried over into Spring, it’s finally warming up. Work, family, and friends all take up the precious time you have on Saturday and Sunday. Do you really want the spring cleaning and yard work to take up any more of it than necessary? Do any of these tasks look familiar and fill you with dread?

• Mowing the Lawn
• Clearing the lawn of debris from winter
• Trimming Hedges
• Planting Flowers
• Cleaning Off Lawn Furniture
• Cleaning Out Gutters
• Repairing Gutters

And even if you somewhat enjoy any of these chores, they can often take up more time than you realize. Our Chore Calculator predicts that lawn mowing takes 48 hours total every year, cleaning gutters takes 25, cleaning windows takes 10 hours and general landscaping accounts for another 20 hours of your precious time.

The LeafGuard Chores Calculator

Use the calculator to find out how much time you could be saving if you didn’t have to worry about these chores…and what you could get accomplished with that time instead. The results might surprise you!

If you find certain outdoor chores unbearable or too time-consuming, we can’t tell you to pay someone to take care of everything for you, but there is one solution that will take care of itself: LeafGuard gutter systems. LeafGuard gutter users know that every Spring, exactly zero hours will be put towards repairing and preparing their gutters. Once installed, this seamless gutter system is guaranteed never to clog. If you’ve ever woken up on Saturday morning and just wished that your chores would do themselves, then that wish can come true– at least for cleaning out clogged gutters.

We fear that some yard work and chores may always be there for you to do, but we’re also confident that you can greatly reduce the total time spent doing chores over the course of the spring. If you don’t want to spend your springs in perennial toil around the house, consider solutions that require no additional maintenance once installed.

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Photo Credit: Front Yard Debris, Flickr, @LRJ53

A question often asked in the gutter world is, “when is the best time of year to buy gutters?” The answer to this question depends on where you are at in what we call, “The Gutter Cycle”. Seasonal weather presents different challenges for your home at different times of year. Threats to your home exist year round if you don’t have a seamless gutter system in place, but only you can be the judge of which season leaves your home the most vulnerable. The key to timing your gutter purchase and installment is addressing your needs within the Cycle.

THE GUTTER CYCLE

Fall

The first problem everyone associates with gutters is falling leaves, and this is the season for it. If your gutters are not guarded, leaves will quickly collect and halt water flow. If this is not addressed and water stays in your gutters throughout the winter, you could be looking at broken gutters as a result of heavy ice.

Winter

Snow and ice become a gutter’s worst enemy in the winter if the water flow is obstructed in any way. Clogged gutters in the winter means that stagnant water will freeze, and put an enormous amount of pressure on the gutters, potentially dragging the screws out of the house entirely and breaking them.

Spring

Spring is a unique time, and a dangerous one for gutters, because you are dealing with the onslaught of spring showers and the residual effects of winter snow and ice. The end result is a lot of water around your house, and if it is not channeled away from your house properly, major structural disasters could be the result. Those threats include erosion, damage to the trim of your house, and damage to your foundation.

Summer

In summer, the same dangers of too much water apply as those in spring. But there is the added threat of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes love to make homes in standing water, and if your gutters are not functioning properly, then standing water can build in the gutters themselves or the areas around your house.

Is it the summer rain you’re most worried about, or the winter snow? The common threat across all seasons within The Gutter Cycle is blockage. If anything other than water can get into your gutters, it will mean that water cannot get out, and you have a problem. LeafGuard seamless gutters are guaranteed never to clog as long as you have them.

Late August-Early September is an opportune time of year to have gutters installed, in preparation of the Fall leaves and the Winter cold. Ultimately, however, any time of year is a good time to install a gutter system on your home, because every season presents a different set of challenges related to gutters. You might have assumed that you could put off that phone call until next season or 6 months down the road, but really the time is now to protect your home.

It’s a sight that no homeowner wants to see: You go out in the morning to start your car, look back at your house, and a portion of your gutters has gone rogue and now is pointing 90 degrees toward the ground. Aside from being an eyesore, this fallen gutter can cause serious issues with water and ice collecting around your house. To make sure that you never find yourself in this situation, we’ve outlined a few causes of dangling gutters so you know what to avoid. And if it’s too late, you also have a starting point for righting the ship.

CAUSES

Missing screws, loosened screws

Even if your gutters are perfect when installed, the wear and tear of the seasons can cause them to gradually loosen. With enough neglect, the screws will come out completely and the gutter will sag as a result.

Clog

When your gutters are clogged from too many leaves or other debris, they become weighed down from those clogging agents along with the water that is blocked from flowing through the downspouts. All of that puts a lot of stress on the gutters, which can drag them down and pull screws and nails out. Too much of that stress will send your gutters flying downward and hanging sideways.

Leveled out

This is likely the problem that you think about the least, but if your gutters are completely level, then their flow will be halted. This presents a risk of water growing stagnant and weighing down the gutters. If this is the case, you will run into the same stress issues that are listed above.

Each of these issues can be prevented by regularly monitoring your gutters’ tightness and water flow. It is always better to address a small problem immediately, lest it becomes a big problem over time.

HOW TO FIX A HANGING GUTTER

If any of the above causes or something else entirely has left a piece of your gutter pointing towards the ground, then you must clean it off and re-attach it. It should be done sooner rather than later, so that water and ice don’t become a major issue around your house. Follow this guide on re-installing a gutter panel.  As Danny illustrates, it’s important to drill a new hole for the gutter screws rather than use the previous hole which has widened over time.

WHEN TO FIX

We’re not going to tell you that you can’t repair gutters in the middle of winter. Only you can make that call. But just consider that not only will you personally experience the cold, but your gutters and house have experienced it all winter, and as a result will be hard to work on with a drill or hammer.We hope that you never find yourself in a fallen-gutter situation, but if you do, you should be well equipped with tips and information to get you through the re-installation.  Whatever you do, please be careful when climbing ladders and remember that it’s always best to bring in a professional gutter contractor to do any adjustments or repairs to your gutters. Check back with our blog periodically for more home improvement resources & information!

Photo Credit: Gutter, Flickr, @Editor B

Photo Credit: dethcicle, Flickr, @thirteenthbat

Old Man Winter has arrived and he hardly waited for your gutters to be prepared. By now, hopefully, you’ve gotten the leaves out of the way, but even so, there’s plenty left to do to make sure that the low temperatures don’t cause serious problems around your house.

Unclog gutters – An absolute must. Most gutters are cleaned out earlier in the season, but leaves can always fall later than expected. If your gutters are clogged and water flow is restricted by leaves, water will build up and then freeze once the temperature drops. Frozen water in your gutters is very likely to weigh them down and cause cracking. If unclogging your gutters is a chore you would rather skip, consider a seamless gutter system like LeafGuard.

Make sure gutters are secure – As we enter the season of snowfall for many regions, it’s important that gutters are tightly secured, as snow and icicles will put more weight and pressure on the gutters. If a few nails or panels are loose, a heavy snowfall could leave you with a gutter hanging sideways off of your roof.

Make sure downspouts are aligned – If your downspouts are not functioning properly, the water that your gutters worked so hard to corral and drive away won’t end up going very far at all. Water will leak down the side of your house and freeze. Ice around your house is not only dangerous for walking, but, as it expands, ice will put pressure on whatever structures it abuts or covers.

Remove branches from overhanging trees – Tree branches that hang over the roof of your house pose a threat should they ever fall down. It would be wise to take them down on your own terms, whether that means getting on your roof with a saw, or hiring a landscaping company to get rid of the branches.

Ensure that water flows away from foundation – As mentioned above, it is important that water not only flows within your gutters but ultimately ends up away from your home, for your foundation’s sake. If too much water freezes around your house, it can put pressure on your foundation and even cause minor shifts.

This is the time of year when being busy snowballs into chaos, and before you know it it’s February and you’ve experienced snow and ice on several occasions. Knock this chore off the list and rest assured that your gutters will brave the elements.

Photo Credit: ‘Icicles are Nicicles’, Flickr, @Capt’ Gorgeous

Photo Credit: ‘Clear Blue Sky Above Snow Topped Gutter’, Flickr, @chrissatchwell

We at Englert are extremely proud of our LeafGuard partners for stepping up and contributing to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Many of our dealers have inquired how they can help those impacted by the devastating storm. Most have contributed to the Red Cross and some have even helped homeowners repair and rebuild their homes.

We would like to recognize one particular LeafGuard dealer however because their generosity and that of their employees really stands out especially at this time of year. The employees of Lindus Construction our Midwest LeafGuard dealer have decided that in lieu of employee gifts and their annual Holiday party this year they would rather donate a very large sum of money to the Red Cross to assist the victims of Hurricane Sandy. This unbelievably selfless and very generous act from members of the LeafGuard family has prompted other LeafGuard dealers to follow suite.

While Midwest LeafGuard and their family of employees do not qualify for the”Heroes in the Storm” prize money we thought their selfless gesture was worthy of special announcement on the LeafGuard blog.This is not the first time they’ve stepped up to do something like this and we are certain it will not be the last. The ownership and employees at Lindus Construction and Midwest LeafGuard are surely Heroes in the Storm.

On behalf of the Englert LeafGuard family we would like to formally thank you for leading the way and showing us the true definition of being selfless during a time when others need it most. Thank You!

To see more stories online and “like” our page feel free to visit our campaign here: “Heroes In The Storm” – For every “like” Leaf Guard will donate $1 to the Red Cross to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by Super Storm Sandy.

Feel free to visit the Lindus Construction Website and “like” the Lindus Construction Facebook Page

Our recent campaign shines light on those who shone brightest during the trials and tribulations of Superstorm Sandy.

Recently, we launched the campaign Heroes In the Storm, aimed at providing relief for those affected by Superstorm Sandy. Participants can enter to receive money to rebuild and participate in our cause to help others at the same time. By liking our Facebook page, we’ll donate $1 to the Red Cross.

Then, participants can share their stories about an unsung hero who did something extraordinary during the storm. We’ll reward our favorite story by giving the entrant and the hero both $500 to help rebuild, and then donate an additional $500 to the Red Cross.

So far in this campaign to shine a light on the true heroes, we have learned about some remarkable men and women.

Highlights of our standout group of heroes include:

• A community rallying around a dog breeders’ business that was wrecked and in need of rebuilding money by creating a Facebook page and raising money.
• A brother and sister tandem of heroes that started a non-profit organization called “NJ Strong” just hours after the devastation came to the forefront. This group has already recruited 350 volunteers, cleaned out 51 homes across 15 different communities, and distributed emergency supplies to areas in need. They are well on their way to reaching their goal of $10,000 in relief money.
• A young man who drove an hour during the storm to rescue his brother, whose apartment building and neighborhood of Hoboken, NJ were being evacuated.
• The Animal Care and Control center of New York finding adoption homes for orphaned and abandoned pets from the storm.

The “likes” to this campaign send money directly to those people hit the hardest by Sandy.  The submissions of stories serve as a source of hope and inspiration to those that need both dearly. Read about the Heroes In The Storm , and if you know a hero yourself, share their story. You might be able to help in a way you never imagined.

A question we’re often asked is, “Will I be able to keep up my tradition of hanging Christmas lights if I install a new gutter system?”

With LeafGuard gutters, the answer is an emphatic, “Yes!” Hanging Christmas lights on LeafGuard’s seamless, one-piece gutter system is easy, and requires little extra work and zero hassle. When you choose the gutter solution guaranteed never to clog, it won’t come at the expense of the Christmas spirit that annually adorns your home.

You will need a sturdy ladder, and someone to spot you on the ladder if possible. If your Christmas lights have clips built in, then you are all ready to hang. If they do not have clips, then you will need to buy gutter clips for lights at a hardware store or home improvement store.

The lights attach snugly, via the clip, to your gutters as pictured below.

Taking the lights down is also a hassle-free endeavor. Once the holiday season is over, you simply remove the clips and the lights, and there are no nails left, messes to clean up, or eyesores to deal with.

LeafGuard wishes you a Happy Holiday season and safe decorating!

A big complaint that we hear from LeafGuard customers in the Fall is “ever since I installed LeafGuard gutters, there are more leaves in my yard than ever!” This should come as a welcomed side-effect of no-clog gutters, as there are now no leaves filling up your gutters and blocking water flow. All those leaves that used to fill up your gutters are now on your lawn and around your house.

As this is the high season for leaf-fall and removal, here are some methods of leaf removal with helpful tips. A good resource to check out before you start is a Fall Foliage Chart. You can count on leaves coming down in earnest a couple weeks after their “peak” time listed.

Rake – For some, it’s a seasonal ritual. For others, a seasonal burden. Hate it or love it, we’ve all done it, and it will cost you the least but probably consume the most amount of your time. One thing to consider is that raking leaves burns calories.

Leaf Blower – These electric or gas powered leaf eliminators come as blowers or blower vacuums. A leaf blower simply blows the leaves around, while the vacuum type has the ability to suck leaves up into a bag, and some will even crush them and compact them automatically. They come in handheld or backpack form, the backpack machines are normally bigger and heavier, so the backpack allows you to use it for longer without straining yourself.

Hire Someone – If you’ve installed LeafGuard gutters because you’re the type that likes to relax on the weekends rather than spending hours on the roof, than this might be the option for you. A landscaping company will leave your yard looking immaculate, but not without charging a hefty price. It might be nice to give a kid in the neighborhood 20 or 30 bucks to take care of it, even if a few leaves go un-raked.

Fun Tip: However you decide to handle your leaves, get Fall-themed bags and add some decoration to your lawn, or let young kids jump around on them.  Make sure that there is supervision and that you check the kids for ticks and wash up afterwards.

LeafGuard wants you to enjoy this seasonal beauty, but also be prepared for the challenges that this time of year presents.  Some extra leaves on the ground to take care of is a benefit, in our eyes, of a gutter system doing its job.

photo credit: 10-23 Autumn Rake, flickr, @iowa_spirit_walker

photo credit: 11.6.2010 alt photo <leaf bags> , flickr, @Phil Roeder