When it comes to protecting your home from water damage, your roof is the first line of defense. An important second line of defense is your gutters, which channel rainwater away from your siding and foundations, preventing it from damaging these essential structures. In order to serve their purpose effectively, your gutters need to be maintained, and this article is a brief guide on how to keep them in good condition.

• Clean Your Gutters Regularly – If your gutters get clogged with debris, they can’t work properly, so it’s important to clean them out on a regular basis—at least twice a year. You can clean them out yourself, or you can hire a professional gutter company to do the work for you.

• Perform Visual Inspections – Another thing you will need to do to maintain your gutters is perform regular visual inspections. You don’t need to get up a ladder and inspect them up close—just walking around the perimeter of your home and checking to see if your gutter troughs are still firmly attached to the roof, whether they are level, and whether there are any signs of rust, is sufficient. If you notice any of the issues, call a repair team as soon as possible.

• Install Gutter Guards – A third thing you can do to keep your gutters in great shape is to install gutter guards. These are mesh panels that go over your gutter troughs—the mesh allows water to get through and flow as usual, but keeps out leaves and other debris. This prevents clogs, and it greatly reduces the need for gutter cleaning.