Households in the UK have been urged to check their gutters for one important reason this month, and it's to do with the weather we have been having so far this year. January and the first half of February have been severely wet for much of the country, with rain on every day of the year in at least one part of Britain. Plus, there has been occasional snow, but widespread snowfall is projected in the latest weather maps over the next couple of weeks.

With such wet and wintry weather, households need to take extra steps to protect their homes. One of those is to make sure their gutters have not been damaged by rain and snow. Today, chunks of the UK are under a yellow weather warning, with snow and ice warnings in place in some regions. Meanwhile, WXCharts shows heavy rain and snow throughout the rest of February. Gutters protect our homes by catching rainwater and moving it down into drains. But when conditions are continuously wet, your gutters can struggle and might get damaged over time.

The experts at Great Places Housing Group shared several winter weather tips for the home, including this one to do with your gutters. As February continues to be considerably wintry, it's important to take note and avoid costly bills down the line.

The experts say that it is important to check your drains and gutters regularly over the winter months, especially when conditions are particularly wet and blustery. This is important because they can easily get blocked with things like wet leaves, which can lead to cracks, breaks, and a backlog of water.

This backlog of rainwater can cause mould and damp, as well as leaks, which can have adverse effects on the structure of your home.

David Donaldson from My Property Pros shares the risks involved with not checking your drains and gutters before and after adverse weather conditions. For example, he said that drainage and gutter problems can lead to costly leaks and interior home damage, staining on your walls and decreased structural integrity.

Meanwhile, it can also lead to hostile insurance arguments, as you could be accused of not keeping up regular maintenance. To remedy this, households should check gutters for debris (such as wet leaves and dirt), cracks and leaks, and how well water is flowing to downpipes.

While it can be an added cost, it might be worth booking a professional gutter cleaning if you notice issues, as problems down the line might rack up a hefty bill.