This Common Spring Maintenance Task Can Prevent the Spread of Wildfire to Your Home

May is designated as National Wildfire Awareness Month, as the weather warms up and vegetation dries out in certain regions of the United States. Unfortunately, wildfire seasons are lengthening and intensifying, particularly in the Western United States. And even areas of the Eastern U.S. have seen smaller but impactful increases in fire weather days, according to research by Climate Matters, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Therefore, this is an opportune time to understand how you can protect yourself and your property if you live in an area prone to wildfires.     

When you first think about maintaining gutters, you probably consider how they protect your home from water damage. They direct rainwater away from your foundation, walls, and roof to help prevent significant problems like basement flooding, foundation cracks, and mold growth. However, keeping gutters clean also plays a crucial role in helping protect your home against the spread of wildfire. 

Here you’ll learn why gutter maintenance is critical for wildfire protection as well as gutter-related solutions to minimize risk. If you are curious about your specific wildfire risk, check out FEMA’s National Risk Index. 

The roofline and gutters can contribute to the spread of wildfires.

Limbs, leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other foliage and debris that collect in a gutter can ignite during a wildfire, providing a fuel source for the fire to continue burning or spreading, says Cullen Rodgers, product innovation manager at Gutterglove in Franklin, Tennessee. This is particularly an issue where trees hang over or close to the home. “However, a clean gutter means there is no flammable material or debris for the fire to burn.” 

What’s particularly concerning is that wind-blown embers, which are burning pieces of airborne wood or vegetation, can travel far ahead of flames and land in the gutter. If ignited, the gutter debris can then cause the roof—and ultimately the attic and the rest of the home—to catch fire. Embers are often the cause of homes burning, so it’s critical to keep roofs and gutters clear, and therefore, safer from potential fire damage.

Gutter maintenance can help protect your home.

To minimize your risk of devastation from wildfires, add gutter maintenance to your home chore list. Gutter cleaning typically entails removing all debris. It’s also important to inspect the gutters, roof, walls, and fascia to determine whether any areas need repairs. Most gutter-cleaning jobs take only a couple of hours to complete, but could take longer if you have gutter guards, steep roofs, difficult terrain, or significant debris. If you prefer to hire a pro to inspect and clean your gutters, expect to pay between $119 and $228, or an average of $163 in gutter-cleaning costs. 

In addition to cleaning gutters, you can protect your property from wildfires by taking the following steps:

• Remove debris from the roof to reduce the accumulation of flammable material.
• Keep branches away from the roof.
• Remove low-hanging branches from trees to a height of 8 to 15 feet.
• Cut back trees extending within 10 feet of the flue opening of a stove or chimney.
• Clean debris from exterior attic vents and crawl space vents and install ⅛-inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers from entering vents.
• Space out landscape vegetation (up to 15 feet apart) to minimize fuel loading (the total amount of combustible material in a defined space).
• Replace or repair loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
• Move any flammable material—mulch, flammable plants, leaves, and firewood piles—away from wall exteriors.
• Replace plastic gutters with metal gutters such as aluminum.

Consistently clean and inspect gutters.

Since gutter maintenance may not be top of mind, you are probably wondering how often to schedule it. “The frequency depends on the elements surrounding the home,” says Rodgers. “In most cases cleaning gutters once or twice a year is sufficient. Homes surrounded by large trees prone to shedding may require more routine maintenance.” 

Experts often recommend cleaning gutters to remove leaves and other debris once in the spring and again in the fall. The timing in the spring works well to prepare for wildfire season in many parts of the country. Of course, if you live in an area that experiences frequent wildfire warnings, then it might be necessary to check your gutters more often.

It’s also a good idea to inspect gutters periodically to look for signs of wear or damage. If you notice that water is overflowing from your roof or not coming through the downspout, this could mean that gutters need to be fixed or replaced.  

Choose the best tools to properly clean gutters.

If you decide to try DIY gutter cleaning, prioritize safety. Always use a sturdy ladder, wear protective goggles and gloves, and make sure someone else is around to spot you and help if needed. You can also use tools while standing on the ground so you don’t have to climb up high to reach the gutters. 

Several products are on the market for cleaning the inside of gutters, says Rodgers. “If the debris is dry, a leaf blower can work well,” he says. “If the debris in the gutter is wet, a scoop might be needed. A home with proper gutter protection is much easier to maintain, and brushing or blowing any debris that doesn’t naturally shed off the gutter guard can easily be done.” 

Here are some of the common tools for removing debris from gutters:

• Wet/dry vacuum: Buy a special hose and curved attachment designed to reach the obstructed gutters from the ground.
• Leaf blower: Many leaf blowers come with a nozzle attachment designed to release a powerful air stream to blast leaves and other debris from the gutter. You’ll need a ladder to reach the gutter.
• Power washer: Wash away dirt and debris with the fine-spray nozzle on your power washer. This tool works best for clogged gutters and downspouts.
• Telescopic hose wand: Attach this extension to your garden hose so you can spray out gutters and downspouts without a ladder.
• Telescoping claw: This device attaches to the end of a telescoping pole so you can reach down into your gutters from a ladder to loosen and remove debris.
• Gutter cleaning scoop: This inexpensive option enables you to stand on a ladder and reach down into gutters to scoop out debris.

Install gutter guards to prevent debris from accumulating in the first place.

If you’re looking to minimize debris buildup in your gutters, add a gutter guard or cover. These block debris while ensuring that water can still flow freely. Rodgers suggests adding gutter protection made of fire-resistant materials that can prevent debris from collecting in gutters. “Gutter guards designed to be installed with a slope that encourages the natural shedding of debris are ideal,” he says. Keep in mind that you still should remove any debris that collects or sits on top of a gutter guard. 

Gutter guards come in a variety of styles, such as brush, foam, or screen guards. Some snap into place, while others require screwing or nailing into the fascia with reinforcement hangers. You can try installing them as a DIY project or hire a pro, but keep in mind that if you install the guards improperly, roof damage could result. 

It’s best to look for non-combustible, Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)-compliant mesh metal gutter guards to minimize wildfire risk. Metal guards are better than plastic or vinyl ones, as they will stay in place when plastic ones will easily detach and fall to the ground.

 

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