Gutter cleaning can seem like a monumental task at times especially if you haven’t made provisions to use a leaf guard or gutter guard to catch any leaves. Nevertheless, it is a necessary burden – if you don’t do it, your gutter, whether vinyl or seamless, can fall into disrepair. Regular maintenance can prevent punctures and bowing due to pressure from accumulated debris. The following are some tips for gutter & downspout cleaning that should make the job a little less strenuous.
First, for those who have never had the responsibility of gutter cleaning, a downspout is the vertical pipe that transports the water from the gutter to the ground when it rains. It’s essential to clean out any mud, leaves or water out of the downspout as well as the gutter since the extra weight of the debris can cause serious damage to the roof and supporting walls.
Here are the steps to clean a downspout.
(1) Lean a ladder against the side of the house making sure you don’t position the ladder against the downspout or gutter. You don’t want to damage them.
(2) Remove the leaves and debris from the gutter with a gutter cleaning tool such as a leaf rake or trowel.
(3) For the encrusted dirt, use a hose to wet it down and remove the mud with a trowel.
(4) Make sure the downspout is clear by running a gentle stream from the garden hose through the piping. When using the hose to flush out debris also check to see if there are any punctures in the gutter as well as the downspout.
(5) To unclog the downspout, you can use a downspout unclogging tool. If you want to make a primitive one of your own, you can use an extended coat hanger for this purpose.
The above instructions are general guidelines. These guidelines also work if you’ve got a metal building in the backyard with some gutters as well. Just follow the same steps for that building as you would for your house. Let’s review the types of gutter cleaning tools and which gutter cleaning tool is best to use when cleaning out the muck from a gutter.
Basic Gutter Cleaning Equipment
There are several options when it comes to cleaning your gutter. You can use a shop vac, a gutter rake, a leaf blower or a gutter scooper.
A gutter rake is about 60 inches long and assists you in reaching the debris in a gutter while positioned on a ladder. It has two different ends to facilitate the job of cleaning. One end serves as a scraper while the other end is curved and aids you in collecting the dirt and leaves so you can remove it with your hands. This gutter cleaning tool works best on gutters that are only partially full. It can be used in gutters that are wet or dry.
A shop vac is another tool that works well when cleaning gutters. Typically, you should use one of these tools when the gutter is half full. If your roof isn’t too lofty and the gutter is dry, then a leaf blower can be helpful to cleaning out your gutter. This quick method of cleaning only takes about an hour if you’re cleaning the gutter of a smaller house.
The Gutter Scoop
When cleaning a gutter, a gutter scoop is sometimes a handy tool to use. You can design your own make-shift scoop by cutting up a milk jug although gutter scoops bought online are normally better suited for this purpose as they’re more durable and can accommodate more debris. You can use this type of gutter cleaning tool with either a shop vac or a gutter rake. If you don’t have a conventional rake at your disposal then you can use a hoe although the process may take more time.
Ladders
There are several types of ladders you can use for gutter and downspout cleaning. If your house is around two stories high, then a 28 foot ladder should suffice. Fiberglass ladders are usually a little more sturdy than aluminum ladders and can hold more weight. Where a fiberglass ladder can hold about 300 pounds an aluminum type of ladder can usually carry about 250 pounds.
Other Useful Gutter Cleaning Equipment
If you have a particularly steep roof a safety harness and safety line are necessary. Also heavy duty thick gloves and a flat bucket with a handle are essential tools. Gutter rakes can be purchased at most retailers online or offline for $20.00 or more. Such a tool is helpful in cleaning leaves and dirt from hard-to-reach places making the job a little safer. Use a flat bucket as it will provide more balance and is less likely to tip over. Make certain if you have a need for a safety harness and line that they are of the highest quality; otherwise you’ll defeat the purpose of using them as security against a fall. If you’re serious about working in any high place, an investment in roofing boots is imperative. That way, you can be assured you’ll have extra safety while treading over any roofing surface.
Don’t Forget the Equipment You’ll Need for Repairs
As you clean your gutter it can be a good idea to look for any necessary repairs. Since you’re already up there working, you may be able to do small repairs on the spot. Therefore, be sure to have the appropriate equipment to handle this. Tools for repair include nails and hammer, two screwdrivers (a flat head and Phillips) and patching sealer.
The Best Times to Clean your Gutters
Normally the best times to clean your gutters are late autumn when the leaves are almost off the trees and early spring. If you live in an area that has quite a bit of precipitation in the form of snow and rain or has a good number of tress, then of course you’ll have to clean them more often. Whether you choose a gutter cleaning service to do the job or you decide to do it yourself, it’s important that your gutters be cleaned routinely to keep your home in tip-top shape.
Gutter and downspout cleaning and maintenance can be done on a regular basis. All it takes is a little knowledge and the right type of tools. The above information can lead you to retailers on the Internet who can make the chore a little less strenuous.
