Tips For Cleaning Your Gutters
11/15/2021
With fall season at its peak and the leaves starting to fall, it’s time to clean your gutters.
Throughout the year, debris such as leaves, and sticks make it into your gutters causing them to backup. This backup can result in water creeping its way into the roof and into the foundation of the home.
A yearly comprehensive cleaning of your gutters can avoid future damage to the home. If you’re looking to clean them yourself, you’ll need to come prepared.
If you haven’t started and need guidance on how to get the job done, we’ve got some insider tips from the pros to help you.
What You’ll Need
- Ladder (extension or step)
- Garden Hose
- Trowel or some type of scoop
- Bucket
- Latex Gloves or Work Gloves
- Gutter Sealant
- Plumber’s Snake (optional)
- Tarp (optional)
How To Clean Your Gutters
Once you have all your materials, it’s time to get to work.
- Clean your downspout.
- Place tarp and ladder. Place a tarp underneath your ladder to catch any falling debris. You may need a ladder stabilizer or an extra pair of hands to keep the ladder in place. It’s a good idea to hook the bucket on the ladder for easy access.
- Clean gutters with hands and/or trowel. With gloves, remove debris from the gutters. If you are worried about anything sharp in the gutter, use your trowel to remove debris. Place the debris in the bucket and continue down the length of the gutter.
- Use a garden hose to flush gutters. Turn on the water hose and place it at the opposite end of the downspout. Check the water flow at the bottom and see if it varies from the water coming out of the hose. If there’s a difference, there could be a backup in the downspout. Use a plumber’s snake and hose to release the clog.
- Use gutter sealant to seal holes. You want to control the flow of the water and holes in the gutter can lead to water getting in places it’s not supposed to be. Make sure to check for any leaks in the gutters and use gutter sealant to fix.
- Get rid of waste. Use a lawn bag to put your debris in. Then use the hose to clean your bucket.
To protect your gutters from clogging, consider using a guard system or using a gutter screen to prevent debris backing up in the downspout.
Contact Your Roofing, Siding, and Gutter Experts
With the potential damage clogged gutters can cause, we recommend you clean your gutters at least once a year. It’s best to keep a close eye during the fall season as debris is known to build up. If you are looking for any assistance or have questions about cleaning your gutters, give us a call. We are here to help you with any of your roofing, siding, or gutter needs.