Gutters are a vital part of every home. They direct water away from walkways, landscaping, and your home’s foundation. However, the gutters may get clogged from accumulated debris after some time. That is why it’s essential to clean your gutters at least twice a year to keep your home in prime condition. Follow these tips to clean your home gutters safely and effectively.
Ensure Your Home is Ready for Gutter Cleaning
One of the things to do when preparing your home for gutter cleaning is to lay down a large tarp. Tossing the debris here will prevent messing up your yard during the cleaning process.
You’ll also need a ladder which you might have to move several times to cover the entire length of the gutter. Your ladder should also be set at a proper climbing angle on a level, solid surface, but not against your gutters.
Protect Your Hands and Feet When you Clean Your Gutters
Protect yourself with sturdy work gloves and wear safe, non-slip shoes so you have good traction on the rungs of your ladder. Gloves prevent you from coming into contact with germs and bacteria in the debris.
Carry Everything Needed to Clean Your Gutters
Ensure that you have a hammer, screwdriver, and other tools ready if you see things that you should repair. You can use a tool belt instead of stuffing the tools in your pocket. If you don’t have a tarp, you can hang two buckets on your ladder to collect the debris you scoop when you clean your gutters.
Start Cleaning
After your workstation is ready, start to clean your gutters by removing large chunks of debris with your gloved hands. Next, use a trowel or gutter scoop to scrape out the packed-in leaves and dirt. It’s better if you begin scooping debris closer to the downspout and move away from it as you progress.
Spray Away Gunk
When you’ve removed all the debris, use your hose and spray nozzle to rinse off dirt and other grime from your gutters. Spray from the end opposite the downspout so that water flows out of the gutters. You can also use a pressure washer for extra power. But remember to be careful not to spray under the shingles to avoid loosening them.
Check for Leaks in the Gutter System and Make Repairs
If your home gutters are warping or have several cracks, it’s essential to seal them right away. If your downspout is blocked, feed your hose up and spray at maximum pressure to unclog it. If the paint on your gutter is chipped, repaint them to look as good as new. For gutters with serious damage, call a professional for a quote to replace them.
Regular gutter cleaning is necessary to prevent various problems around your home. And when the time comes to clean them, the above steps will help you to do the job safely and effectively.
AmeriSpec Inspection Services provides home inspection services to the Dallas-Ft Worth area. Contact us to schedule an inspection.