With the seasons changing and the leaves falling off of the trees, it may be
a good idea to get some of your gutters cleaned up. There are a couple of ways
you can go about doing this, each devoting
roughly the same amount of time and effort needed to be completed. By
keeping your gutters well maintained, you are less likely to run into future
issues. Also, if you are preparing to sell your home, it is a good idea to clean up your gutters before putting your house up for showings. Here are some know techniques to get you on your way to cleaner gutter.
Leaf blower method
1) Equipment needed in this method: leaf blower, rope, safety glasses, dust
mask, and an extension ladder.
2) A good tip for an easy way to get the leaf blower onto the roof is to tie
one end of the rope to the leaf blower and the other end to the top rung of the
ladder. Once you get on the roof you can then hoist the leaf blower easily.
3) Once on the roof you can simply blow the debris out of the gutters and
off the roof. Make sure to always wear your safety goggles and dust mask to
protect your lungs and eyes. When you are through clearing out the gutters,
just lower the leaf blower to the ground and you are finished!
Water hose usage
1) If you’d rather give this option a try, these are the tools you’ll need
to work with: a small hand shovel, a ladder, and a garden hose with a sprayer. Using
the hand shovel, you’ll want to dig out as much of the large material as you
can. This helps in making clean up a lot easier. You can use a small trash bag
to collect the debris.
2) Start by working from the opposite end of the downspouts; spray the water
down the gutter towards the downspout and out. You may want to purchase a scrubbing
pad to remove any stubborn dirt that is stuck on there.
3) Check to be sure that all the water goes down downspouts to ensure all
obstructions are washed and cleared away. In some cases, you might even need to
use a plumber’s snake for clearing the exit ways on the downspouts.
To reduce the frequency of cleanings in the future, or for any future residents when you do plan to sell your home, you can install wire mesh
on your gutters or even put in a leaf guard system. These systems are a bit on
the pricier side and they don’t always work perfectly, but they will prevent
major debris from blocking the gutters. You’ll want to just be sure to maintain
and clean them throughout the year.