Ready or not, winter’s on its way! In Central Ohio, where temperatures dip below zero, snow falls, ice accumulates, and rain freezes, preparing your home’s gutters for winter couldn’t be more important. By keeping water off your roof and moving it away from your home’s foundation, gutters play a leading role in protecting your home from numerous water catastrophes.
As summer comes to an end, homeowners in London shift their focus from sunny days and green grass to the challenge that the impending winter months bring. Where winters are known for harsh conditions, unprepared gutters can wreak havoc on your home in many ways. Neglecting your gutters in these late summer months can lead to costly issues like ice dams, foundation cracks, and roof leaks in the winter. This is why late summer is the perfect time to give your gutters some TLC so they’re winter-ready, whether you are or not.
With this guide, you can learn what winter is like here in London, Ohio, and the surrounding areas, and discover the damage that can happen to your gutters, especially those that are not well-maintained. Using the late summer checklist for gutters, make sure your gutters are healthy. By taking a few simple steps now, you can protect your home and keep your gutter system ready for another Ohio winter.
What Winters Are Like in Central Ohio
From Dayton to London to Columbus, Central Ohio winters are no joke. The harsh mix of conditions that winter can bring will test any gutter system. Temperatures frequently drop below freezing, and London homeowners can face anywhere from 25 to 35 inches of snow every year. These large storms can pile heavy snow loads onto roofs and gutters. Temperature fluctuations can cause freeze-thaw cycles, melting and refreezing the snow, creating ice dams that stress your gutters and block drainage. With our flat terrain and tree-heavy areas, water can pool near the home’s foundation if gutters are clogged with late fall debris. Snow loads, icy buildup, and debris make late summer preparation essential to prevent damage and protect your home. So, what kind of damage can these harsh conditions cause? Let’s take a look at the significant issues that can arise during the winter.
The Stresses Gutters Endure in Winter
Late summer is an ideal time to enjoy what is left of the warmer weather and start prepping for the winter months. A little preparation now can help avoid the consequences of gutters that are not winter-ready. Below, we’ll break down common winter stressors for gutter systems and learn the damage they can cause.
Temperature Swings: With frequent temperature fluctuations, gutter material will expand and contract, potentially weakening seams and joints.
Moisture Exposure: While gutters are made to move water, prolonged moisture exposure can promote mold and mildew growth, not only in the gutters, but on fascia and soffit, too.
Foundation Threats: Pooling water around a home’s foundation can spell big trouble. Overflowing is a common occurrence for gutters that are clogged with ice or debris. Pooling water can cause foundation instability, cracking, and basement or crawl space flooding.
Roofline Risks: Ice dams and clogs in the gutter system can cause water to back up underneath shingles, causing leaking inside the home. Roof leaks can cause a whole host of problems, such as insulation damage, damage to interior walls/ceilings, or lead to mold growth.
These winter stressors show just how susceptible gutters are when they aren’t properly maintained, leaving your home at risk for widespread and costly damage. To avoid encountering these problems before the snow and ice set in, here’s a late summer checklist any homeowner can use to prepare their gutters for the winter months ahead.
Late Summer Gutter Checklist
This step-by-step checklist is intended to help homeowners prepare their gutter system for the winter ahead. Preparing in late August to early September ensures that gutters will be ready for the October rains and freezing January. Follow these steps now and prevent disaster later.
Clean: Perform a full cleaning of your gutter system, including gutters, downspouts, and drains. Remove leaves, twigs, and dirt. If you are unable to or simply don’t have the time, scheduling cleaning with a gutter company can ensure your gutters get the maintenance they require.
Visual Inspection: From the ground, perform a visual inspection of your gutter system, looking for cracks, holes, and wear and tear. Look for sagging or detached sections, loose or missing fasteners, mold, rust, and peeling paint.
Test Slope: Gutters need to be properly aligned with the right slope to move water efficiently through the gutters and down the downspouts. Gutters should be sloped ¼ inch per 10 feet downward. Using a level, homeowners can verify that their gutters are accurately sloped.
Secure Gutters: Tighten any loose brackets and add screws if necessary. This is the perfect opportunity to also inspect the fascia, since this is where the gutters are attached. If the fascia is soft, rotted out, or moldy, replacement must be done to ensure gutters can be securely fastened.
Inspect Downspout Flow: Using a garden hose, run water through the downspouts and ensure that the water is moving freely and extends away from your home’s foundation to avoid flooding or any other foundation issues.
Trim Trees: To reduce leaf and debris buildup this fall and winter, trim any overhanging branches that can drop leaves, clogging gutters, or limbs that run the risk of falling and damaging the gutters.
Check Attic and Roof: Ice dams can cause a lot of trouble on your roof and in your attic before you even realize it. For this reason, we recommend checking the roof for debris that could fall into the gutters and checking the attic to make sure insulation and ventilation are appropriate. Remembering these important areas during your late summer checklist can prevent ice dam formation and avoid a lot of headaches.
Test: Flushing your gutter system using a garden hose, you can ensure that water is flowing smoothly, efficiently, and accurately.
In addition to the pre-winter checklist, homeowners may consider the following gutter add-ons to add an extra layer of protection to their homes by consulting with a professional gutter company in London.
Gutter Guards: Gutter guards can be added to your home’s gutter system to prevent leaves and debris from clogging your gutters and reducing the risk of ice dams.
Heat Cables or Tape: Heated electrical cables can prevent ice buildup in gutters and downspouts, ensuring proper flow and reducing the chances of ice dams.
Downspout Extensions: Downspout extensions can be added to existing downspouts to move water further away from the foundation and landscaping of the home.
Gutter Replacement: If your gutters are damaged beyond repair, old, or you are just concerned that they won’t protect your home through the winter, scheduling a gutter replacement and upgrading to seamless gutters now can provide the peace of mind you need to get through the snowy winter months ahead.
By performing this late summer checklist and considering these gutter add-ons to provide superior protection to your home, you ensure your gutters will be strong enough to handle the heavy rain, snow, and ice that winter in central Ohio often brings.
The Payoff of Late Summer Prep
As the warm days of summer fade and the chill of fall settles in the air, taking time now to prepare your gutters for winter is a small effort that brings big rewards. It is one of the most effective ways homeowners can safeguard their homes against the harsh realities of winter in Ohio. Our region’s winters, marked by 20-plus inches of snow a year, icy freeze-thaw cycles, and heavy debris from our tree-laden areas, can push unprepared gutters to the brink. Costly damage like foundation cracks, roof leaks, or mold growth can all be avoided with a little late summer prep. By cleaning, inspecting, and strengthening your system before the first freeze, you can avoid many of these problems. With a little time and effort, or the help of a professional gutter company, you can ensure your gutters can continue doing their job when you need them the most. With proper care, you, your loved ones, and your home can stay protected all winter long.