Gutter cleaning tips and tricks

Cleaning your gutters may seem like a project that can wait, but putting it off can create more work and more costly repairs later. In this article, I’m going to tell you the best way to clean gutters and install gutter guards to help avoid any debris buildup. I’ll show you how to do it right, so let’s get started.

Try to clean your gutters at least twice a year, in the spring and then again in the fall. However, you also want to check them before and after any heavy rain showers to make sure that your gutters are still clean. Cleaning is typically best when the debris in the gutter, has had a few days to dry out.

Sometimes that is not always an option, and sometimes you are going to have to deal with wet leaves and twigs that can build up over time and clog your gutters and your downspouts. If left unchecked, this means that your gutters can overflow and damage your roof and fascia. Even worse, the foundation of your house can also be damaged. The good news is that all this water damage is avoidable if you take a few simple steps to deter it. The best way to access your gutters is with a ladder.

Leave working from the roof to the pros with gutter cleaning services and avoid heights and fall risk. Also, if you’re just uncomfortable on a ladder or if you’ve got power lines near your gutters, call a professional to help. When using a ladder, always set it on solid, stable, and level ground. Some ladders have an adjustable leg for uneven ground, so be sure to follow the safety instructions noted on the side of the ladder. For a two-story home, you’ll need an extension ladder. A handy tip is to use hooks to attach a bucket for tools or debris. Let’s get into the best way to clean gutters.

Alternatively, You can drop your debris onto plastic or a drop cloth on the ground. Make sure that your ladder is not sitting on the plastic for safety. You’ll want to wear your work gloves when you’re cleaning gutters because you may come in contact with some sharp metals. If you’re working with wet debris, consider wearing nitrile gloves under your work gloves. Okay, so now it’s time to get to work.

Begin by removing any debris near the downspout first. Also, remove and clear any downspout strainers if you have them. A gutter scooper comes in handy when cleaning packed in and caked-on material. You might find that just using your hands works better. Flush the rest of the debris with a hose or use a gutter cleaning attachment to clear the small debris out. It can be helpful to start at the far end and move toward the downspout. Try not to spray under the shingles removing this debris is the best way to clean gutters.

If your gutters are not draining, chances are you’ve got a clog in your downspout. So because the downspout usually is one solid piece, go ahead and take off the band’s around the downspout to remove it. The downspout should slide out. Once its out, then flush it out with the hose and reattach it. If you have a short piece of downspout running into a drainage system, remove just that short piece. I cover the open pipe with a bucket just in case a lot of debris comes out. Now you can feed the hose nozzle up the spout spraying with full pressure to release the clog.

If that doesn’t work, try a drum augur sometimes called a plumber snake. Feed it up through the downspout and when it gets stopped, lock the collar and spin the line as you feed it into the downspout as you pull it back. Once you break through the clog, reattach everything and flush the gutters again with the hose. At this point, not only have you used the best way to clean your gutters but also you’ve found the best way to clear those downspouts.

If you notice standing water, this means your gutter isn’t pitched correctly. To fix this issue detach the hangers and adjust the gutter to get the correct slope for proper water flow. Use a level to make sure your gutters slope downward. The ideal slope is a quarter to a half-inch decline for every 20 feet of gutter running toward the downspout. Installing additional hangers can help with sagging gutters. So now we’re going to fix any leaks that we have. For best results, you want to make sure that your gutters are completely dry and then run a bead of gutter sealant over the seam. After clearing, it is an excellent time to clean your gutter exteriors as well as touch up your gutters and downspouts with a little paint.

So now that you’ve found the best way to clean gutters, they should be cleaned out and sealed up. At this point you may want to consider adding gutter guards. They’re straightforward to install, and they keep most debris out of your gutters. There are a variety of options available, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation.

One type of gutter guard operates by sliding under the shingles and is secured with screws. Once your gutter guards get installed correctly, you’re still going to have to check into them in the spring and in the fall to make sure that they’re clear. Take a small brush and brush off the top and then run the hose through it to clear out any small debris that’s managed to find its way into the system. Maintaining your gutters is a simple project that’s well worth the time and effort, and now you know how to keep your gutters clear!

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