Gutter cleaning might not be the easiest or most fun chore in the world to do. However, if you don’t clean your house roof gutters on a regular basis, you are definitely inviting trouble. It is important I explain the importance of keeping clean roof gutters in the Canberra ACT area, and why you should think about when you last had them cleaned.
It was the early afternoon 18th January 2003 when the West Canberra Stromlo Hill fires were blazing uncontrollably, mercilessly burning everything in their path. Winds were forecasted to be 30-40 knots from the west and we already saw some 100 hectares of prime agricultural land burnt up on the fringes of west Belconnen. Then the most devastating crisis gripped west Canberra – A firestorm with such intensity gripped the Weston Creek residential area and we saw some 900 homes completely destroyed. I nearly lost my aunt and uncle during this terrifying bushfire that reached the urban area – They had been very lucky to escape the intense inferno as Chris, their son and well known police detective, managed with his access to save them from the inferno that claimed several lives.
It is estimated that some one quarter of these homes were either under insured or not insured at all. And many of the homes had caught fire through the roof cavities – Via roof gutters full of dry leaves and bark, amassed from large gum trees which surround many Canberra homes. gutter cleaning The importance of gutter maintenance and cleaning cannot be ignored.
Not from just a fire hazard point of view, but in order to facilitate best storm water flow from your house roof. The thing about Canberra roof gutters is they have a habit of constantly attracting gum leaves, the most combustible fuel your home’s roof can have. Therefore, I’d like to elaborate on the reasons why you need to think about gutter cleaning in Canberra.
The gutter waste is divided into two categories. The first is the wet waste which includes rain water, dirt and grime that may become a part of your roof gutters and then cause any kind of clogging of the drain. Though it is more time consuming to clean the wet waste, a good pressure washing hose would be enough to handle the waste. However, if you are living in a place like Canberra, you would be facing more dry waste problems.
So what exactly is dry waste and how is it harmful for your roofing gutters? Dry waste can be defined as any kind of waste that is trapped in your gutter which clogs it and doesn’t let the rainwater flow easily through the rain gutter. As a result, water usually starts to overflow and it may damage the inner walls of the house as well. The paint of the facias can start to scrape off in this condition and even the foundation of the house can be damaged because of excessive water retention. However, one of the most important things that you must consider with dry waste is that it is made usually of dry leaves. The Canberra weather is very hot and dry. This aridness of the climate can easily result in fire in the house.
Another very worthy point to mention is that many house insurance companies may refuse to pay a claim on roof storm water or fire damage if the loss adjuster can prove the roof gutters were not adequately cleaned!
The season of bushfires can cause great trouble to you in the Canberra weather. The dry leaves act as a good fuel for the fires to start. The guttering usually surrounds the entire house. Therefore, if you have not employed Canberra gutter cleaners, or cleaned your own roof gutters lately, you could be inviting any existing fires to spread to your house where dry leaves combust very easily. A small spark can ignite anywhere in the summer, and a lot of damage is caused from fires spreading uncontrollably. Therefore, you entrust professional gutter cleaning services to clean, service and maintain your gutters. Because nobody should leave their home and their loved one’s safety to chance, always assuming “This won’t happen to me”. It can take only minutes for a home to be reduced to ashes – Think about your home’s roof gutters and make sure it’s in your mind.