All through the year, the weather changes for people who live in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. The changing seasons in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina can be hard on homes that aren’t ready for things like tropical storms and high humidity. Fuquay Varina, North Carolina is often very hot. In July, which is the hottest month, the average temperature is 90.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
Aside from making it hard to walk outside because of the heat and humidity that comes with it, high heat can also ruin your gutters. Here are three ways the hot weather in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina is bad for your gutters and what you can do to fix them.
1. ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RAYS UV
Rays can do a lot of damage to a roof and gutter system that are out in the open, whether it’s sunny or cloudy outside. Some studies show that UV rays can be 25% stronger on partly cloudy days than on sunny days. This means that, unless it’s an “extremely cloudy” day, your gutters are getting harmful UV rays most of the time.
When UV rays hit gutters, their strength can wear them down, making them more likely to crack or break. Fuquay Varina, North Carolina homeowners should keep this in mind and make plans for it. Some ways that people in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina can protect their gutters from UV rays are:
- By planting trees, will shield the gutters from the sun.
- Bring in a professional like Ned Stevens to do checks every three months.
- Pick a time of year when the weather is not too hot or too cold. This can also help keep the temperature from rising (more on that later).
2. HEAT
Most people think of sunlight and heat as the same thing. However, when it comes to Fuquay Varina, North Carolina’s gutters, the sun’s rays and heat can have different effects. As the sun gets closer to the gutters, the temperature inside them goes up more and more quickly. If the outside temperature is between 85 and 90 degrees, which it often is in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina during the hot summer months, the gutters can be close to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
When combined with UV rays, it speeds up the gutter system’s breakdown, making it weaker and less flexible. In addition to the tips in the section above for reducing the effects of the sun, choosing the right material can be a very important choice when thinking about this element. Ned Stevens can give you a free quote and consultation that can help you figure out the best material for dealing with Fuquay Varina, North Carolina’s high heat.
3. THERMAL EXPANSION
By definition, thermal expansion is when the volume of a solid or liquid grows when the temperature goes up. Heat and UV rays can cause some materials to grow, like gutters in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina’s hot weather.
When a gutter system goes through thermal expansion, which is sometimes called “thermal shock,” it can cause cracks, buckles, and other damage. Thermal expansion is a mix of the effects of UV rays and high heat. If you don’t take care of it, it can cause your gutters to break when you need them the most. Since the season of high heat is often followed by the season of tropical storms, don’t let the rain come in through gutters that were left open and dried out from the season before.
ONE LAST THOUGHT
If you live in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina and you read this article and your first thought is to plant trees and do everything under the sun to protect your gutters, remember one thing.
If you plant trees to protect your gutters, keep in mind that you might only get shade in some places. This uneven shade can make some parts of the gutter system vulnerable, leaving you open to the problems described in this article.
Keeping your gutters safe from the weather is not an exact science. Experts from professional companies like us are the only ones who can inspect, diagnose, and suggest a way to protect your gutters from the hot North Carolina heat. Call us at (919) 646-5009 to protect your home this summer. Fuquay Varina Gutters and Power Washing is here to help.
