Gutters are more than just a nice way to outline the roof of your home. They actually take the rainwater from your home and drain it away from your house and yard. This is so you don't have issues with drainage and end up with water damage to your home or flooding in your yard. Gutters can last for some time, but they can have their own issues, such as the nails coming out from your house and the gutters pulling away from your home. They can leak or bend and break, leaving you without this drainage system. To help keep your gutters in good shape, there are a few things you can do. Read on for helpful tips.

1. Clean Out Debris

Clean the debris from your gutters at least a couple of times per year. You'll need to use a bucket or container of some sort to toss the contents into, and you'll need to get up onto either your roof or on a ladder to reach the gutters. Use a small shovel or a gloved hand to remove the contents from the gutters and toss them into the bucket or pail. Do this for all of your gutters on your home. Spray the gutters clean to ensure the water flows properly along the gutters and down the downspouts.

2. Inspect The Gutters

Do a thorough inspection of your gutters to ensure they are not pulling away from the house. If they are full, there's a chance that the gutters can get too heavy for the nails or gutter hangers holding them in place. When this happens, they pull away and can eventually fall off of your home. You should inspect your gutters seasonally to ensure they are still holding on tightly to the house and that none of the gutter nails have come loose. If they have, you need to nail them back into place.

3. Clear Ice Dams

Ice dams can form in the winter months, and can also cause your gutters to weaken. Winter can be harsh on a home, but especially your gutters, as they are only made of aluminum. Remove ice dams that have built up on your gutters or large amounts of snow that have piled up or caused a drift on the gutters. Also, remember to clear ice from your downspouts. When the snow begins to melt, the water will need somewhere to drain.

If you have gutters on your home, you want them to last a while before having to replace them again. Keep them in good shape using the tips above. If they are in need of replacing, you should hire a professional gutter service to replace them for you.

For more information on residential gutters, contact a company near you.