How to Take Care of Your Gutters During a Drought in Amarillo

Here in Amarillo and the rest of the Panhandle, we go through long periods without rain. Most people don’t think about their gutters during droughts and focus on their landscaping and water conservation. But during droughts gutters systems can run into issues you need to be aware of.

Gutters aren’t necessarily empty when there’s no rain. Water usually wash away small debris out of your downspout.    

If you live here you know this: Amarillo is one of the windiest cities in the United States. The wind creates tons of opportunities for leaves and dust to blow over into your gutters too. During drought season all this can build up along with animal waste, dirt, and other things.

Leaving this stuff unchecked can lead to nesting areas for birds and bugs. And if you have a crack around the gutter near the roofline they may even find their way inside your home.    

Take the following steps to maintain your gutter during droughts:    

Debris that collects in your gutters can be dangerous during a drought. It can easily catch fire in this Texas heat. To avoid this issue, use your hands or a scoop to remove large debris from your gutters. We recommend wearing gloves to protect your hands while clearing debris from your gutters. If there aren’t a lot of twigs or other junk in your gutters, you can use a leaf blower to blow out any debris quickly.

Vacuum out debris areas of your gutter system where possible. For the rest of the area, clean it out with a hose and if necessary scrape off any debris from the gutter system. 

When downspouts get blocked, they cause water to flood over the sides during heavy rains. So your siding and foundation will take the hit when the water goes away. Look for obvious obstructions at the top of each downspout. Clear what you can with your hands. 

Run garden hose at full pressure to flush downspouts. Break stubborn clogs with a plumber’s snake. 

Disconnect downspout elbow if necessary and clean separately. Flush from the bottom up to force debris out the top.

Gutters are easy to work on in the dry season because they’re empty and dry. First, u se a ladder and check for any holes or cracks in your gutters. Next:

• Use sealant to seal small leaks in your gutters. 
• Repair or replace sections of gutter that have severe damage. 
• Use a level to ensure that the gutters slope down toward the downspouts. 
• Adjust hangers as needed so water doesn’t pool in the gutters. 
• Secure gutters by replacing loose brackets and fasteners.

• Trim any branches hanging over your roof or gutters. This will minimize the chance of leaves or twigs falling into your gutters.
• Install metal gutter guards. Don’t use plastic guards. They could catch fire. 
• Double-check that you’re downspouts are moving water 4 to 6 feet away from your foundation.

One simple solution is collecting the water during rainfall. A rainwater barrel accumulates water at the bottom of the downspout of a gutter system. It’s one way you can cut down on your watering bills as you now have free water handy you can use on your garden, trees and houseplants.

Don’t wait for the rain to worry about your gutters. The easiest time to clean your gutters is when it’s dry since you won’t have to worry about debris or a wet ladder. Cleaning your gutters will save you in the future and help you avoid the problems that lead to fires. Be sure to dedicate a couple of hours this season to clean your gutters.

For gutter maintenance or a rainwater barrel in the Amarillo area, contact us today .    

The post How to Take Care of Your Gutters During a Drought in Amarillo first appeared on New Vision Exterior Solutions.

The post How to Take Care of Your Gutters During a Drought in Amarillo appeared first on New Vision Exterior Solutions.