Indiana weather is all over the map. We enjoy 4-seasons: spring, summer, winter and fall.
The two most challenging times for gutters and gutter guards are during spring and fall.
Flowers, seeds and leaves that shed from trees in May and early-June can quickly cause gutters to fill and clog. Certain gutter guards will fail to perform properly because they were not designed to prevent clogs from the types of trees in the yards where they are located.
It goes without saying the spring weather is generally wet. Rain begins as soon as temperatures rise, and it can stay wet throughout June. Lots of rainfall in short periods of time can challenge the best performing gutter system.
Summer is a good time to catch up on gutter cleaning and making sure your gutter guards are ready for fall.
Depending on the summer heat and amount of precipitation we receive in Indiana, most leaves begin dropping in late-September through early-November. Some trees, such as pine and birch trees drop its needles and leaves throughout the year. Oak trees tend to hold onto many of its leaves well into winter and early spring.
Winter is another situation altogether. Indianapolis, Lawrenceburg and Batesville sometimes have mild winters with little snow and other years it brings bitterly cold temperatures with lots of snow. Northern Indiana cities and towns, on the other hand, are are subject to more snowfall than sister cities to the south. Gutters and gutter guards will perform differently depending on the weather.
If your gutters are full of leaves and debris, this, combined with ice and snow, will add tremendous weight to your gutters. Every foot of gutter filled with ice and snow, adds 8-10 pounds of weight. On a 40-foot gutter run, that adds up to 400 lbs weighing your gutters down. This is often why you see gutters that have pulled away from homes and collapsed during winter months.
The proper type of leaf guard on your home will prevent snow and ice from building up inside your gutters and will keep them free-flowing throughout the winter.
One thing is for certain, if Indiana homeowners are subject to a good amount of snow, you are more likely to see icicles forming from the edges of your gutters and gutter guards. While some people think icicles are dangerous, we think they’re pretty!