Safety in Maintaining Your Home Gutter System

Modern-day rain gutter systems are more efficient in conveying runoff and are safer to clean and maintain. People who wish to clean their gutters to prepare for fall and winter find the features of these new gutters helpful. Without these new systems, homeowners will likely have to climb up a ladder and clean an entire gutter assembly, which can be risky.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), falls are one of the top causes of unintentional injuries in the country. These falls, in turn, result in about 8.9 million visits to emergency rooms every year. When a person falls, the injury they sustain can affect their ability to do basic household chores, possibly even debilitate them completely.

Falling from a ladder accounts for the largest number of fall accident cases. Based on the latest available data from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, about 246,733 Americans had to visit an emergency room because they fell from ladders. That means around 28 people per hour, every day, get into an accident when hanging up lights, sweeping roofs, or cleaning gutters.

Home builders recommend the use of gutter guards, a roof accessory that keeps leaves, pine needles, and other clutter out of the gutters, thereby allowing rainwater and melted snow to flow easily through them. With your gutter system able to operate efficiently, you won't have to worry about debris accumulating in your gutters, and the effects these may have on your house and your health.