How to Clean and Maintain Your Gutters

Most home owners know they need to maintain their gutters to prevent damage to their roofs and foundation during rainstorms. However, many aren’t sure how to perform the work themselves or when it’s appropriate to call in gutter cleaning professionals. In most cases, if you are comfortable getting up on a ladder and have a home that is one story, you can perform most gutter-cleaning tasks yourself. A full gutter cleaning should be performed twice a year or whenever a storm causes a build-up of debris in your gutters. Here are some simple steps to clean them out.

Scoop Out Loose Leaves and Debris

Before you get up on the ladder and begin cleaning, it’s important to dress in protective gear such as long-sleeved shirt, heavy gloves, and protective eyewear. This will ensure that loose branches, leaves, and other debris don’t get in your eyes or scrape up your skin.

Starting at the low end of the gutter by the drain outlet, use your hands or a garden trowel to scoop out debris and drop it into a plastic bucket. Try to do this when debris is soft, such as a day or two after a rain. If it’s dried or crusted, it could be difficult to dislodge.

Spray Out Gutters with a Hose

After you’ve removed as much debris as you can, blast out the gutters with a hose using a high-pressure nozzle. You can follow this up with a scrub brush to remove caked on dirt if the hose doesn’t get the job done on its own.

Clean Out Obstructions

When you spray out the gutters with your hose, watch to see if water is draining properly from the drainpipes and downspouts. If it isn’t, try blasting out the pipes with your high pressure attachment until water flows freely again. You should also pay attention to how close your downspouts are draining water to your home. The goal of downspouts is to direct water away from your foundation so it does not cause damage to the structure of your home. If water is pouring out and pooling too closely, consider adding downspout extenders.

If you do not feel comfortable getting up on a ladder, have a home that is above one story, or feel you would rather have a professional clean out your gutters, you should call a company that specializes in gutters in Jacksonville, Ponde Vedre, or Mandarin. They can clean and maintain your gutters and make recommendations on repairs or upgrades. If you’d like more information on your home’s roof or gutter system, please visit our website.