Gutter maintenance important, especially in the fall

Leaves are causing some issues for homeowners in Michiana, especially after Thursday night's storms. Home maintenance companies say it is important to monitor your gutters when we have severe weather.

For Thomas Hathaway and others at EJ Barany Gutters, the next month is something like a race.



They're drilling holes and prepping for the change in the weather, trying to keep up with an increased workload.



"Winter time, fall - it doesn't matter. You're going to have to clean them gutters out," said Hathaway.



Thursday's extreme weather took a lot of fall foliage off the trees, meaning he and others were out in full force.



He says keeping your gutters clean is important.



"Keeps your roof shingles from falling apart, keeps water from dropping into your basement, because if it goes down the side of your house, it can really erode all the dirt that goes down on your basement wall," said Hathaway.



They worked on a home Friday that had damage to the foundation because of oversaturation. Water from the roof drained too close to the home for too long.



"Make sure your gutters are functioning the way they're supposed to. I mean, they are there for a reason. Let them do what they're supposed to do. Don't just let them fall to pieces," said Hathaway.



Hathaway says taking the time to make those repairs now can save you later.



With winter just around the corner, ice can buildup and cause damage you won't know about until it's too late.



If you have any concerns about your home - now is the time to get some help. Hathaway says they're expecting more storms like the one we had Thursday to keep them busy.