Sure it’s beautiful. The splendor of autumn colors in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin is virtually unsurpassed among the wonders of nature. Yet, those crimson red, golden yellow and fiery orange leaves represent the arrival of that annual ritual where trees shrug loose of their leaves. And, when they shrug those leaves loose, those leaves come down.

When the leaves fall to the ground they create the need to break out the rakes. In Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, as well as other areas, this means raking the leaves into piles and dragging them to the curb for vacuuming, bagging them for removal or raking them into piles for burning. But, not all leaves make it to the ground.

Many leaves fall onto roofs and into gutters. Those that fall on the roofs often make their way to the gutters. In either case, they create a blockage that denies the gutters the ability to perform their intended duty – conducting water from the roofs to the ground without creating hazardous pools (icy pools in winter) or potential flooding of basements.

“When gutters are clogged, not only are they unable to efficiently move the water as intended, they also become part of the problem rather than part of the solution,” said Bill Thomas, owner of Northern Illinois Windows in McHenry, a company that washes windows and cleans out gutters. “With clogged gutters, snow and ice can build up beyond the breaking point. The breaking point is where the weight is too much for the gutters and they collapse.”

As a gutter collapses, Thomas said it can create a hazardous condition for anyone walking by at the time. Even if that’s not the case, it can create icy and flooding conditions. As the gutter pulls free from the house, it can damage the roof, fascia and eaves.

Water can also buildup under the roof, when the gutter is clogged. This can damage the roofing material and the wood below it. Water flowing over a clogged gutter, on a warmer winter day, can cause pools below that are treacherous when frozen as the temperature drops again.

The solution is to clean gutters so the water can flow through as designed to do. Since leaves fall in the autumn, and snows generally come down in the winter, the best time to clean your gutters is in that short period between the two seasonal events.

“Cleaning the gutters is not a highly complex process,” Thomas said. “However, since it does involve working off of ladders and climbing on roofs, it’s not something you should do without serious attention to safety. That’s particularly true if you have a two-story or higher home or office.”

When in doubt, Thomas said it’s best to call in a professional. However, he said you shouldn’t call just anyone who claims to clean gutters.

“It’s essential that you hire someone who is insured and bonded,” Thomas said. “If they aren’t, not only are they more likely to use less than the safest procedures, but, if they do fall, you’ll find yourself with a bigger problem than clogged gutters.”

For more information, call Thomas at 815-385-6646.