Gutter cleaning is a difficult, time-consuming, and labor-intensive project that requires proper tools and safety precautions. The task is especially dangerous for those with little or no ladder experience.
Clean gutters facilitate rainwater flow from the roof and funnel it away from the house. This minimizes basement flooding and prevents water overflow that ruins the foundation of a building. This is a fantastic article to read.
How to Clean Your Gutters
Gutters are designed to protect the roof, siding, foundation, and other areas of a home from water damage. However, clogged gutters trap dirt, animal feces, leaves, sticks, and other debris preventing rainwater from flowing properly through the gutter system.
A clogged gutter can lead to water damage to the fascia boards, windows, doors, sides of the house, and the foundation, as well as cause basement flooding. Gutter guards can help prevent clogs by catching leaves, twigs, and larger debris, while still allowing rainwater to flow through the gutter system.
Regular cleaning of the gutters is a simple task that will keep them working effectively. The best way to clean gutters is from the ground, avoiding ladders which are prone to tipping if they are not set up securely or carelessly used. Alternatively, a telescopic gutter cleaning pole can be used to reach second-story gutters safely from the ground. These poles attach to a standard garden hose and come with a gutter-cleaning nozzle, extending the reach of the hose for higher-up work.
Safety Tips
Gutter cleaning can be a dangerous chore. People often fall off ladders and roofs, which can cause serious injuries. Ladder falls are one of the most common reasons for trips to the emergency room. The best way to avoid these accidents is to use a sturdy ladder that’s positioned on level ground and sturdily secured. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves and protective eyewear. This prevents debris from getting in your eyes or causing cuts on your hands.
If walking on the roof is necessary to perform gutter cleaning, it’s important to wear rubber shoes. This type of footwear adheres to the rungs of the ladder and helps prevent slip-and-fall incidents. It’s also a good idea not to walk on the roof in the rain. Overhanging trees can drop leaves, twigs, and sticks onto the roof and into the gutter system, even after it’s been cleaned. Regularly trimming overhanging branches prevents this problem. Likewise, gutter screens can help keep twigs and leaves out of the gutter system.
Equipment
Gutter cleaning equipment includes a ladder, a sturdy pair of work gloves, a trash can or tarp to toss collected grunge, and a wet or dry vacuum or leaf blower (depending on whether you use an attachment that works from the ground or one that affixes to a ladder). If you choose a gutter-cleaning kit that attaches to a pressure washer, that piece of machinery is also necessary.
Some telescoping gutter claws look like large candy scoopers and let you loosen and lift debris from inside the gutter. They’re relatively inexpensive but require you to move the ladder every 4 or 5 feet.
A gutter cleaning kit such as the Tucker Junior trad pole and gutter hawg tool minimizes ladder moves by pulling gutter gunk to you, letting you rake or scoop it away from the gutter, and then toss it in the trash. It can even reach behind skylights and other rooftop nooks and crannies.
Cleaning Procedure
Clogged gutters are a common cause of costly home damage. Regular cleaning can prevent clogs and maintain water flow, keeping your foundation, siding, and landscaping healthy.
Begin at the Gutter’s Highest Point
Using the handle of a gutter cleaning tool, like the Gutter Sense, extend the tool along the top edge of your gutter, working towards the downspouts to clean out debris from the trough and extending your reach as needed. After each section, lower the tool to dispose of collected debris.
For more difficult areas, extend a garden hose with a gutter-cleaning nozzle to reach the hard-to-reach places. Position the nozzle inside the gutter and turn on the water to wash away leaves, twigs, gunk, and dirt. Be cautious to use the proper pressure and angle to avoid damaging your roof and siding. After each section, check to see if the downspouts are clear of debris and are draining. If necessary, reposition the nozzle and repeat. Check out this interesting post!
