How to Easily Clean Your Home’s Gutters This Spring
Keeping your Home’s Gutters Clean can be a pain, but it needs to be done. Spring is here and the heavy rains have begun in most parts of the US, so now it’s time for you to clean your gutters! And since you’re going to do this anyway, I’m going to tell you a few tricks that will make this job MUCH easier.
Gutters are an essential part of any home or building with a roof. The main purpose of having gutters is to collect rainwater from the roof and channel it away from the house foundation. In some locations where gutters are left clogged debris such as leaves and twigs may accumulate resulting in water stains on walls which over time may lead to rotting wood around windows, doors and other openings.
However, the main point of having gutters is to protect your home from water damage caused by leaks.
So if you are serious about keeping your house watertight, clean out the gutter on a regular basis. It’s not complicated or expensive to do so.
Just follow these simple steps: –
Get some gloves and a trowel or rake and remember that children and pets should be kept away from the working area because sharp nails and metal pieces with which you’ll work could harm them. Make sure there is enough space around the targeted area around 10ft on either side of the gutter as well as above it where falling debris may land as you clear out your gutter as this will prevent the risk of creating another problem while you are trying to fix this one.
– Remove Debris
Start by removing any leaves or twigs that have accumulated in the gutters, if your gutter is attach to a downspout it will make clearing out the debris much easier because you can use the downspout to help push debris into an area where you can get at it. Do this near ground level where the crud is likely to fall, then move up higher tackling each section of gutter one step at a time. This way you’ll be able to clear all sections without having to go back and forth too many times.
This spring, as you roll your lawnmower out of storage and start cutting those grasses back after their winter hibernation, take a few minutes to check on the condition of your home’s gutters. If they’re full of dirt and debris from winter storms or if they’re overflowing onto your roof and siding, now is the time to clean them out and ensure that they’ll be ready to catch any rainwater that falls this season.
A little bit of maintenance now will go a long way towards protecting your home’s top investment top this year?
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your gutter-cleaning session:
Tip #1: Properly secure your ladder
The first thing that you should do when climbing up to clean out those gutters is to set your ladder on a solid footing and ensure its stable.
Remember safety first!
Tip #2: Get the right tools for the job
When cleaning your home’s gutters, it isn’t enough just to grab some rags or paper towels and start wiping them down. You’ll want to have plenty of elbow grease on hand as well. A good, strong brush can help you knock off chunks of debris and loosen dried-on gunk so you can rinse them away with a hose. If there’s any moss growing on the gutters, then we’d recommend grabbing a bucket of bleach solution and using a soft-bristled brush to scrub it away.
Another tip: don’t forget to bring a hose with you so you can rinse the gutters once they’re clean!
Tip #3: Work from top to bottom
Start at the top of your roof and work your way down, cleaning out any debris that has collected in your home’s gutter system over the winter. Take special care around the edges, as these are most prone to clogging up with fallen leaves or pine needles.
Tip #4: Check spouts for blockages
Blockages in your home’s water spouts can cause problems not only with flooding but also drainage – if water isn’t draining properly, and then there may be a problem with your downspouts as well. Check them for clogs and remove any debris you find, using either a narrow plumber’s snake or just a simple bucket of water to rinse them out.
Tip #5: Don’t put it off longer than you have to
It’s always better to take care of your gutter problems sooner rather than later – if left unaddressed, they can cause serious damage not only to your roof but even the foundation of your home! If you wait too long, then the weight of that entire extra gunk could cause beams or shingles to break or sag, leading to costly repairs.
Don’t let this happen to you – get your gutters clean up now so they’ll be ready to protect your home this spring!
Conclusion:
If you’ve taken the time to prepare your home for any potential gutter problems, then you should be able to spot them and clear them away before they even have a chance to cause serious damage.