Fire can wreak major havoc in a home and take everything away without mercy. To top it off, insurance-related procedures can be long and cumbersome in such situations. Insurance companies will seek to uncover whether the fire was caused by negligence or an electrical problem. Often, it can even come from outside your residence. Have you ever thought of the possibility of gutter fires? Several fires are actually caused by poorly cleaned gutters that contain a large amount of debris.

Major causes of gutter fires

Gutter fires are more frequent in summer since the temperature is warmer and the climate is dry. Branches, pine needles, wood or paper residue, anything that ends up in the gutter for an extended period of time for that matter without there being any rain is at risk of catching fire. It doesn’t take much for a fire to burn: a spark, a burning brand from an outdoor fire, or even fireworks. In Western Canada, several house fires were actually caused by gutters not cleaned properly. Several forest fires are also responsible for such incidents. A burning brand pushed by the wind can still do damage after having traveled one kilometer or more.

Avoid situations that may lead to fire

Several tips are recommended to prevent such hazard. First, it is important to thoroughly clean the inside of your gutter, or to check it regularly at the very least. Make sure to sweep the roof of your property, especially if it is located in an area where there is a lot of natural debris. Maintaining the vegetation around your house is also a good way to do so. By trimming the trees on your property, there will be less debris falling into the gutter. When you mow the lawn, it is important to put cut lawn in a bag, especially if the grass that was cut is located near your home.

Gutter protection: a sustainable solution

That being said, the best option to prevent gutter fires is undoubtedly to install a gutter guard. To that end, Alu-Rex offers two products: the T-Rex gutter guard or the Gutter Clean System. The T-Rex is a proven technology and can be installed on new gutters. It allows water to flow freely and prevents debris from getting inside the gutter. What’s more, it is self-cleaning. Indeed, thanks to this technology, debris doesn’t even remain on the gutter guard for long as the wind pushes it away as soon as it dries up. Homeowners can thus have peace of mind. As for the Gutter Clean System, it features characteristics that are relatively similar to the T-Rex’s. It’s a gutter guard that is installed directly on existing gutters. As is the case with the T-Rex, it’s not affected by the changing seasons and is self-cleaning in addition to being able to prevent debris from getting inside gutters. These products even come with a 40-year no-clog warranty.

Despite all these advantages, it’s important to remain cautious and vigilant when making a fire or working with an open flame on one’s property. You should always make sure to do everything you can to prevent a fire, for your safety and that of neighbors.