Clean Eavestroughs Ward Off Expensive Repairs!
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Don Mills Roofing will help keep your eavestroughs working effectively with our professional cleaning service. Although no frequency of cleaning can guarantee your eavestroughs will be working flawlessly when that next big storm hits, it's one of the relatively simple and common-sense things you can do to help prevent expensive repairs down the road. We recommend cleaning eavestroughs twice a year - in the late spring and late fall - to help insure proper drainage. Skip this important maintenance step and it's only a matter of time before your troughs damn up. And that's when the real problems can start.
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Clogged eavestroughs are essentially the last thing people think about - until they have a problem.
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THE RISKS OF NOT CLEANING
Eavestroughs and downspouts are designed to channel rainwater away from the home and its foundation. If they’re blocked with leaves, dirt and other debris, they can lead to:
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WHEN TO CLEAN
“Clogged eavestroughs are essentially the last thing people think about — until they have a problem,” says John Landry, owner of Don Mills Roofing. When it comes to scheduling eavestrough maintenance, Landry says it depends on the house. “It would be a very good idea to clean the eavestroughs twice a year,” he says. Homes sitting beneath a lot of trees that continually drop leaves, pine needles, pine cones and other debris, for example, may need more frequent attention. The best times are in the spring and fall. 
HOW TO CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL
If working on ladders or climbing up several stories doesn’t sound like a task for you, it’s time to call in the pros. To find a good company, Landry advises looking for an experienced business that is fully licensed and insured. “When a company says that they are licensed, don’t just take their word for it,” he says. Instead, look up the company on your licensing authority's website for accredited contractors. Make sure the provider’s license is current. |
LAST BUT NOT LEAST …
Once the work has been done, Landry says don’t forget to grab your umbrella on the next rainy day and inspect your eavestroughs and spouts. “Go out and look at your downspouts,” he says. “You should be able to see the water coming out [the bottom] or hear it going through the downspout into the ground drain below. It’s going to be pretty obvious if the downspout isn’t working. … The water will be running over the top of the eavestroughs. Eavestroughs are like anything else in your home. You’ve got to maintain them and keep them clean and ward off expensive repairs.”
Once the work has been done, Landry says don’t forget to grab your umbrella on the next rainy day and inspect your eavestroughs and spouts. “Go out and look at your downspouts,” he says. “You should be able to see the water coming out [the bottom] or hear it going through the downspout into the ground drain below. It’s going to be pretty obvious if the downspout isn’t working. … The water will be running over the top of the eavestroughs. Eavestroughs are like anything else in your home. You’ve got to maintain them and keep them clean and ward off expensive repairs.”
