Cleaning Your Gutters on Your Own? Here’s What You Need to Know
cleaning your gutters
Planning on cleaning your gutters? It’s really important to have quality, well-maintained gutters on your house. They funnel rain water off of your home, which protects the roof and the foundation from mold, rot, and animal infestations. Since gutters are so important, you need to clean them regularly so they stay in good shape. If you’ve never cleaned gutters before, or are out of practice, here are some tips to help you in cleaning your gutters.
Have the Right Equipment.
All you really need to clean gutters is a pair of gloves and a ladder. It sounds pretty simple, but accidents can happen if you don’t have the right equipment. This can result in something minor like a scrape or cut, or something more serious, like a broken bone or a concussion. By making sure you have the right equipment, you’re keeping yourself safe.
Having a dependable, sturdy ladder is crucial. Otherwise, you might lose your balance and fall off. You may have an old ladder hanging in the garage, but if it’s rickety, cracked, or warped, you should buy a new one. This can save you from potentially severe injuries.
Wearing gloves might seem like a hassle, but they’ll keep your hands clean and prevent scrapes and cuts. Usually, gutters are full of muck made of wet dirt and leaves, but sometimes something sharp or even poisonous can fall in there. Scraping yourself on a sharp object can lead to infection, and possible hospitalization. A good pair of gloves can prevent either of these from happening.
Clean Before It Rains.
Some people might not pay a lot of attention to the weather report, but when it comes to cleaning your gutters, it’s important. If your gutters need cleaning, and your local weatherman says it’s going to rain, take the time to clean them out. Gutter cleaning after it rains is much harder to do, because the dirt, leaves and other sediment in the gutters become soft and sloppy. It’s much harder to get sludge out of the gutters, so they won’t be completely cleaned out.
Cleaning your gutters on a cold, dry day will make the process much easier. You also won’t have to deal with the unpleasant smells of moldy, sludgy gutter clogs!
Don’t Forget About The Spout.
The spout is the key to a well working gutter system. After all, this part directs water away from your house. A clog in the spout can backup for your whole gutter system, reducing how efficiently it works. Regular gutter cleaning can greatly reduce potential buildup and prevent any future water-related disasters. If you find that the gutter or spout is clogged, try using a drain snake. This flexible tool makes it easy to remove buildup.
Regular gutter cleaning might not be the most fun thing to do, but it’s an essential part of home maintenance. How often do you clean your gutters out? Is it affected by where you live? Do you use any tools other than a ladder and gloves? Share your tips and suggestions in the comments below.
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