April showers sure do bring May flowers…but they also bring clogged gutters, clogged downspouts, foundation erosion, landscape erosion, wood rot, and flooded basements. With spring being the wettest season in the United States, it’s time to stop and smell the roses. Follow Ned Stevens’ simple outdoor spring maintenance tips and sleep more peacefully at night.
Tip 1: Check to make sure gutters and downspouts remain bonded to the home and are not sagging.
Tip 2: Tighten any loose gutter straps and reconnect unfastened spout extensions.
Tip 3: Clean out your gutters and downspouts. Gutters are your home’s best defense against water damage. No other device can rival the gutters ability to redirect rainwater away from our homes and structures. If your gutters are clogged, they will not be able to handle the heavy spring rainfall, causing damage to your home and property.
Tip 4: Check around the perimeter of your house to see if there are any water pools forming against the home’s foundation. Water pools lead directly to water in the house.
Tip 5: If you have water pools, create positive drainage. Do this by removing the mulch or debris from the surface of the water pool. Then, remove a small area of the soil, creating a slope of about half an inch per foot. Make sure you pack down the soil before adding back the mulch. Do not mix the mulch with soil.
Tip 6: Test the sump pump to ensure water will be pumped away from the home’s foundation during a storm.
If this is too complicated, call Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning® 888-616-3307 or get a free cleaning quote today! It’s that easy.
Image courtesy of Ron Lute via flickr.com
