The Ultimate Guide to Gutter Cleaning 

The Ultimate Guide to Gutter Cleaning 

Cleaning gutters is one of those home maintenance activities that no one ever thinks about until it is too late.Be it during the raining winter season or the dry and windy season, your gutters are essential in ensuring that your home is not damaged by water and other problems. You should consider regular cleaning of your gutters to maintain your gutters in the best condition and prevent expensive repairs in future.

This is a complete guide that will take you through the significance of gutter cleaning, the most appropriate time to clean your gutters, indicators that your gutters require cleaning, how to clean your gutters on your own and reasons why you might want to hire a professional to clean your gutters.

Why Gutter Cleaning is Important

Gutters are the initial protection of your house against water destruction. They divert the rain water off your roof, walls and foundations. Clogged gutters cannot do their job when filled with debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt. It can cause extremely grave problems, such as:

• Water Damage: Clogged gutters may result in the pooling of water around the foundation of your home which may cause cracks or flooding of basements or even structural damage. It is one of the costly problems that may be caused by uncared for gutters.

• Roof Damage: When gutters are blocked, water can be left on your roof and over time may be able to seep under shingles creating a leak. The leaks may cause mold, rot, and expensive roof repair.

• Pest Problems: Clogged gutters will also become an attraction to pests like mosquitoes, birds and rodents. These pests are capable of nesting in the gutters, and they may even get inside your house, causing further inconveniences and possible destruction.

• Landscaping Destruction: The gutters overflowing will also destroy your landscaping, wash out plants and destroy your lawn costing you money to replace plants and soil.

• Ice Dams during Winter: In colder winters, the blockage of the gutters may result in freezing of water to form ice dams. These ice dams do not allow the water to flow properly and this may leak into your house and this may result in more water damage.

When to Clean Your Gutters 

Sacramento has diverse weather patterns in a year, and therefore it is necessary to clean your gutters at appropriate times to ensure that they are working well. The following are the major times to consider cleaning the gutters:

• Fall: Fall is another critical period to clean your gutters particularly when your house is surrounded by trees. As autumn comes, the leaves start falling and the leaves may fill your gutters very fast. Cleaning your gutters during fall will help avoid blockage by leaves and other debris that may happen, and your gutters will be in a position to withstand the rains that will be experienced during the winter.

• Spring: Spring cleaning is a vital component of getting your gutters ready to tackle the months of rain that will come after the wet winter months. Snowstorms and rains may leave a lot of debris and the spring cleaning will make sure that your gutters are flowing free when the next big rains come.

• Severe storms: Severe storms may blow leaves, branches, and other debris into your gutters after Storms. In case you have a heavy rainstorm or windy conditions, it is advisable to check and clean your gutter after that to avoid blockage.

• Pre-Winter: In case you have some trees around your area, then you need to ensure that you clean your gutters before winter so that they will not be clogged with leaves that fall and snow. This will assist in avoiding ice dams and will help your gutters to effectively drain the melting snow off of your roof and foundation.

Overall, Homeowners are advised to clean their gutters two times a year, during the fall and spring. But in case you live in the area with the trees around your house or you have frequent storms, you might have to clean them more frequently.

Signs Your Gutters Need Cleaning

You are not sure whether it is time to clean your gutters? These are some of the indicators that you need to act:

• Water Coming out of the Gutters: The most telling symptom of clogged gutters is when the water comes out of the gutters during a rainstorm. This means that there are some materials that are obstructing the flow of water and the gutter cannot be able to direct the water.

• Sagging or Pulling Gutters: When the gutters seem to be sagging or pulling off the house, then this is an indication of too much debris. The increased weight of debris may make the gutters move or fall off the house and create serious damages.

• Obvious clutter: When you can see leaves, twigs or other trash accumulating in your gutters, then you need to clean them. A good indicator that your gutters are not draining well is visible debris.

• Water Damage or Stains on the Siding: When you see water stains or damage to your home exterior around the gutters, then this is an indication that water is probably overflowing due to clogged gutters. This may cause further destruction of siding, foundation, and landscaping of your home.

• Plant or Moss Growth: When plants, moss or algae begin growing in your gutters, then you have a long-term problem with debris accumulation. The gutters need to be cleaned out and no more growth should be allowed.

How to Clean Your Gutters

Gutter cleaning can be done yourself, provided you are comfortable working at heights and have the right equipment. This is how to do it safely and effectively in a step-by-step guide:

What You Will Need

• Ladder (make sure it is stable and you can get to your gutters)

• Gloves

• A bucket or a tarp (to gather debris)

• Scoop or little garden shovel

• Hose (to clean out the gutters and downspouts)

• Optional high gutter cleaning wand (high gutters)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Ladder: Place the ladder on a solid floor and make sure it is at least three feet above the edge of the roof to give it additional support. A ladder should always be used and preferably someone should accompany you, and it should have wide non-slippery feet.

• Cleaning Debris: With the use of a scoop and gloves, clear the gutter of debris in small bits. Put the debris in a bucket, or on a tarp so you do not make a mess on your lawn or driveway.

• Clean Downspouts: Once the bigger stuff is removed, take a hose and wash out the gutters and make sure the water is flowing. In case you find some clogs in the downspouts, you may clean them up with the help of a plumber snake or a pressure washer.

• Inspect for Damage: When cleaning your gutters, spare a few minutes to inspect your gutters to see whether they are damaged in any way, i.e. they are cracked, have holes or are detached. Ensure that the gutters are firmly attached to the house and they are not rusty.

• Clear the Gutters and Downspouts: Clear all the gutters and downspouts and then flush the whole system with a hose to make sure everything is flowing freely. This also assists in clearing up any debris that is left behind.

Why Hire a Professional for Gutter Cleaning?

Although it is possible to clean your gutters yourself, it is not always the right option for every person. There are a number of benefits of employing the services of a professional gutter cleaning company:

• Safety: Gutter cleaning is hazardous, particularly when you are on a high level. A gutter cleaning company is a professional outfit with tools, training, and experience to clean your gutters without any risk.

• Completeness: Your gutters will be cleaned in a complete manner with the professionals being equipped with the necessary equipment to make sure that they are cleaned thoroughly and that debris that might be lodged deep in the downspouts are cleaned out.

• Inspection: A gutter cleaning service will also be able to inspect your gutters and look out to see whether there is any damage like leakages, rust or detachment and can offer repair services in case there is any.

• Time-Saving: Cleaning out your gutters may take a long time and this is more so when your house has more than one floor. By employing a professional, you will be able to do other things as your gutters will be cleaned and operating effectively.

Conclusion

It is important that you clean your gutters regularly in order to keep your house in good shape. It also avoids water damages, roof problems, and pests and maintains your landscaping. Regardless of whether you decide to clean your gutters on your own or call a professional, the maintenance of your gutters is the way to keep your home safe and functional. Therefore, do not wait until clogged gutters can do some harm to your house, book your gutter cleaning now and save your home.