When Tropical Cyclone Alfred impacted south-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it brought destructive winds, extreme flooding, and storm surges. Tropical cyclones bring powerful winds, relentless rain, and the potential for severe flooding. The damaging effects of cyclone weather can ruin properties and disrupt lives. Homeowners must be prepared for these extreme weather events. This is crucial to prevent costly damage to their properties. One often overlooked but crucial aspect of storm preparation is ensuring your gutters are clean and functioning correctly.
The Role of Gutters During Heavy Rainfall
Gutters are designed to channel rainwater away from the home. This protects your roof, walls, and foundation from water damage. However, the severe effects of cyclone weather can be exacerbated when gutters become blocked with leaves, dirt, and debris. They can no longer perform their job effectively. During a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall event, blocked gutters can cause serious issues, including:
- Overflowing Water – When gutters become blocked, water has nowhere to go. This leads to overflowing gutters that spill water down your walls and into your home.
- Roof Leaks and Damage – Excess water can seep under roofing materials, ie tiles, tin, slate, etc. This causes leaks, rot, and structural damage.
- Flooding and Foundation Erosion – Water pooling around the foundation of your home can weaken its structure. This can lead to costly repairs.
As storm season approaches, demand for professional gutter cleaning services increases significantly. Homeowners who delay booking an appointment risk missing out. The extensive and damaging effects of cyclone weather are significant. This leaves their properties vulnerable to the effects of heavy rain and intense winds. Do not wait until it is too late.
Experience showed that the clients who cleaned their gutters regularly and did not skip their gutter cleaning or ignore reminders fared much better in the weather. They did better than the clients who let gutter cleaning lapse. The clients who had recently had a gutter clean still required another clean after the cyclone. However, the empty gutters before the storm meant there was a better chance for the water to escape to the downpipes.
Gutter-Vac franchises reported the phones and emails were running hot with the panic of getting the gutters cleaned before the cyclone hit. It was impossible to fill everyone’s requests due to the sheer number of clients. Additionally, there was the rain that came before the storm, which made working conditions impossible to complete the gutter cleaning.
Avoid Missing Out – Book Your Gutter Cleaning in Advance
Gutter-Vac can take care of all your gutter cleaning needs. From the first and initial clean, we put you into our scheduling/reminder system. This system will keep your job on file and send out hassle-free email reminders using the period set for your particular property. Skipping gutter cleaning could mean there is no guarantee of availability to get the work done in time for any harsh weather predicted. This is also true at the busiest times of the year when everyone wants a gutter clean. Just before Christmas is a prime example. If you know that you want December as your gutter cleaning schedule, you should book it with your franchise at least a month ahead. Gutter-Vac Northern & Southern Tasmania book the month of December out half way through November.
The message here is to be proactive and not skip reminders, especially if your gutters need cleaning. Book ahead of time if you can, and you will get the optimal appointment to suit you.
Visit our websites, Gutter-Vac Northern Tasmania and Gutter-Vac Southern Tasmania for a list of all cleaning services we provide. Call 1300 654 253 for a free quote.
