Homeowners often make the mistake of ignoring leaves and twigs in their gutters; after all, they’re harmless, right?  In fact, clogged gutters can lead to a number of major concerns including basement leaks, cracked foundations, wood rot, leaking roofs, slippery sidewalks and more.  Gutters are responsible for controlling the water around your home, and built up debris in gutters allows water run-off to eventually damage these other aspects of your property.  The following tips for gutter cleaning will keep water from infiltrating your home and property.

Safety First

Safety should always be your paramount concern.  Gutters run along the outside edges of your roof, so if you are not comfortable with heights or you are not experienced on ladders you may want to hire a professional to clean your gutters.  Nevertheless, if you decide to take on the task on your own, be sure to follow a few safety principles.  Always ensure your ladder is positioned safely and ask a friend or family member to spot you while you’re on the ladder.  Also, be sure to keep an eye out for hidden hazards like tree branches, electrical lines, and anything that can make your ladder unstable.  Your ladder should also have a small shelf that is strong enough to hold a large bucket where you can dispose of debris. 

Spray Out Gutters

A standard garden house with a pistol trigger provides enough water pressure for you to easily clear out your gutters.  You will likely want to remove large debris first, but once leaves and twigs have been removed you can use the garden hose to move out smaller debris.  Always spray towards the downspout to encourage mud and smaller debris to drain.  Consider removing the base of the downspout to prevent debris from clogging at this point.  You can also use your garden hose to test for clogs when you are finished cleaning your gutters.  If water from the hose builds up at any point in your gutters, you’ll know that something is preventing water from draining effectively.

Use a Gutter Scoop

Most local hardware shops will supply gutter scoops which are excellent for removing leafy debris from your gutters.  The front edge of a gutter scoop is very thin and conforms to the shape of a gutter trough.  Metal scoops are not recommended as they can damage the bottom of the gutter as well as gutter seams. 

Rake your Roof

Before you begin cleaning your gutters, it will be well worth the effort to remove debris from the surface of your roof.  Eventually, leaves, needles, twigs and other debris that collects on your roof will filter down to your gutter and cause clogging. 

Remember, gutter cleaning is a fairly straightforward task, but there are inherent risks associated with working on or around your roof.  If you are not totally confident in your ability to clean your gutters safely and effectively, hire a professional.

Posted in Main category.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 4th, 2013 , 1:50 pm and is filed under Main category.