Yard Maintenance To Do for the Dog Days of Summer: Clear the Gutters

The dog days of summer are barking and Labor Day is just around the bend, signaling the end of yet another epic season in the sun. But before you give your flamingo pool float one last hurrah, take a break with some home maintenance prep for the changing season ahead. Why worry now about what you can do next month? Well, as it turns out, some home maintenance tasks are best tackled in August, before temperatures start dipping.

One of these to do’s that really should get done this month is clearing out your rain gutters.  If you live in an area that’s been inundated by summer thunderstorms, know that the debris swept into the gutters can clog them and lead to costly water damage down the road. Or, if you live in the western part of the nation where so many are suffering from extreme drought conditions, dry leaves and pine needles can easily build up in your gutters just waiting to cause problems once the Fall rains do kick in.

Properly functioning gutters direct water away from your home, but muck and debris can cause water to collect around your home’s foundation and seep into your basement, if you have one. (Clogged gutters also make great homes for rodents and other vermin, just in case you needed another reason to tackle this task.)

If you’d like to tackle this job yourself, by all means, grab a sturdy ladder and shimmy up to the roof to inspect your gutters and drains.  A simple garden trowel is effective for clearing most debris. But remember to gear up for safety: long gardening gloves and eye protection will keep you from making an unplanned trip to the ER.  Now, if you’re scared of heights, or just don’t have the time, Home Advisor says the average gutter job will run you around $150.

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Photo Credit: Greg McGill / Shutterstock.com