One of the most overlooked elements in a home is the gutter system. They are often forgotten about until they become clogged with leaves and other debris, which can cause serious damage to the roof. If you have noticed that your gutters need cleaning, then don’t wait another day – follow these 8 tips for a cleaner, safer home!
1. Keep the downspouts clear of debris and water from overflowing
When the leaves and other debris build-up to a point where they impede water from flowing through, you can expect leaks in your ceiling. But this is just one of many reasons why gutters need to be clean – if left unchecked, leaves will pile up on top of each other until there’s no room for more!
If you have a garden hose, it’s easy to clear out the gutters – use your water jet nozzle and blast any debris piles away.
2. Clean off any dirt on the outside of your roof before you start cleaning your gutters
The dirt from your roof can easily get swept into the gutters during a storm. When this happens, it will mix with other debris and cause clogs in the gutter system. The best way to prevent that is by simply cleaning off any dirt outside your home before you start working inside!
This will save you time because there won’t be as much work for you to do afterwards – just keep sweeping out some leaves now and again while they’re still small enough to fit through.
If there’s too many leaves or large debris pieces, then it would require switching over to using an old towel instead of water pressure since these materials are more difficult for water jets alone to break apart quickly!
3. Clear out any leaves, branches, or other debris that might be blocking your gutters
The gutters must be clear of any obstructions. Otherwise, water can’t properly flow out. This might not be a difficult task if you have live plants or bushes near your home, but it could take some time to remove all debris from nearby trees or other outside sources.
If there are large clumps in your gutters – such as leaves and branches – then use tongs or gloves to grab them with ease!
For more stubborn pieces of debris, like pine cones and acorns, try using dish soap. Wetting the leaves will allow their natural suction qualities to pull them up once they’re covered in soap bubbles.
4. Use a ladder to reach high areas or use a telescoping pole to get up higher
If you’re on the second or third floor of your home, then a ladder will be necessary to reach high up areas. However, if you don’t have one handy and are worried about working at heights, then use a telescoping pole instead – it’s a safer option!
Using this tool means that all gutters can be reached from ground level; just extend the pole as far as you need to clean them out. Be careful though, not to let anyone go near any poles because they could easily fall off!
To secure yourself while cleaning those hard-to-reach places like cornices and eaves troughs, try using putty pads for extra grip.
5. Clean your gutters at least twice a year
Gutters should be cleaned twice each year, in the spring and again in late fall. This helps to prevent clogs from forming over winter – when leaves are still falling.
6. Wear protective gear like gloves and goggles when cleaning your gutters
If you’re cleaning your gutters from the ground, then there’s a good chance that debris will drip down into your eyes. And if you’re up on the roof and leaning over to clean them, it can be difficult to avoid any kind of splashback when using water jets!
That’s why safety gear is so essential – what may seem like an easy job could turn out to be anything but with just one wrong move!
7. Tilt the gutter down, and use a hose to clean it out
If you have gutters set up at a higher angle, then it’s impossible to climb the ladder and spray water inside them. That’s why this method is excellent for cleaning out any debris – tilt the gutter down, so there’s enough room in it for your hose pipe!
Then connect your garden hose to a nozzle with an adjustable sprayer on top, and use that to blast away all of the clogs. Your roof will thank you later after it’s been spared from leaks!
You can also invest in some leaf screens if your gutters cannot be manually tilted downward. These attach directly onto the outside edge of your gutter system and prevent leaves from getting inside without clogging everything up first!
8. Check for leaks or cracks on the inside of your house’s exterior walls and roof
If you’ve noticed that your gutters are clogged, and it’s been raining a lot, then water may be seeping from the roof or walls of your house. This is typically due to damage done by falling debris – not only can this cause a highly unsafe situation for anyone inside the home, but it will eventually lead to permanent structural damage!
You should have all touchable surfaces in (and around) your gutter system inspected annually by a professional roofer as part of their yearly inspection process.
Related Read: 8 Common Causes of Roof Leakage
DIY Cleaning Gutters Tips
Conclusion
I hope you have found these tips for cleaning your gutters to be helpful. If you are ready to start, you should complete some of the following tasks before doing anything else: clean off any dirt on the outside of your roof, wear protective gear like gloves and goggles, and tilt the gutter down.
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