The Lazy Homeowner's Best Weapon in the Fall

An unsung hero of the home, gutters quietly perform the critical function of capturing storm water and carrying it away to a safe remove. Unfortunately, the consistent performance of your drainage system comes with a big catch: If you expect your gutters to do their job, then you have to do yours. If not properly maintained, it's only a matter of time before conventional gutters clog and overflow, allowing water—the natural enemy of any home—to go where it doesn't belong. Frankly, if you don't stay on top of maintaining your gutters, you may as well not have them at all. According to experts, the wise course is to inspect your system and remove any built-up debris twice a year at minimum, and perhaps even more often if you live on a heavily wooded lot. But the real problem isn't that homeowners don't know what to do, it's that they they dread doing it. After all, gutter cleaning isn't only messy, laborious, and time-consuming, it can also be downright dangerous, considering the fact that it does involve scaling an extension ladder all the way to the roofline. Sure, there's always the option of hiring help, but for a twice-yearly task, the costs can mount up quickly. Unwilling to do it themselves and unable to afford the services of a pro, countless people neglect their gutters every year and put their homes in harm's way. So what's the solution here? Click through right now to find out!

This content has been brought to you by LeafGuard. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. | By Donna Boyle Schwartz, BobVila.com