How To Keep Gutters Clean?

Gutters are used to drain rainwater from houses. If they work correctly, the appearance of leaks and humidity on the façade and inside the house is avoided.

In order for it to fulfill its function correctly, you must undertake to carry out the preventive maintenance indicated by the installer, removing possible residues and repairing any damage that may appear. In addition, in this way, the useful life of the gutters is increased. If you want to know how to keep your gutters clean and maintain them properly, this article is for you.

Why is it important to clean gutters?

With the wind and rainwater, it is normal for different types of waste to accumulate inside the stormwater system, which can cause accumulations and water overflows that are problematic for the building:

Facade deterioration. If the rainwater does not flow through the downspouts, it will overflow the gutter and slide down the façade, causing leaks, leaks, dampness, and paint detachment both outside and inside the house.

Damage to the gutter anchors. The accumulation of water, or even snow or ice in areas with harsh winters, generates an extra weight in the rainwater system, for which it is not prepared. If it is prolonged over time, there will come a time when the anchors will not support the weight and the system will end up detaching from the wall.

Moisture problems in the foundations . Likewise, if the system does not drain where it is planned to do so, it is normal for waterlogging to occur that can affect the land adjoining the house and, finally, even its foundations.

How often is it convenient to clean the gutters?

Surely they already explained to you when you carried out the installation: it is convenient to clean the gutters at least twice a year (at the end of autumn to remove dry leaves and at the end of spring, to solve possible damage). However, depending on the conditions in your area, it may be necessary to increase preventive maintenance:

Depending on the climate of the area. If you live in an area with high rainfall, you should monitor the rainwater system more often, since on the one hand there is more chance of it suffering damage and, on the other, if it does, the consequences will be more serious.

If the vegetation is abundant . If you live in an area surrounded by trees and with a lot of vegetation, it is much more likely that leaves, branches and other plant debris will accumulate in the gutters. In addition, the presence of trees will almost certainly bring about a greater presence of birds, which contributes to increasing the waste that accumulates in the facility. In that case, you will need to clean them much more often.

Methods to clean gutters

There are different methods to clean gutters. Below, we list some of the most common.

Manual cleaning with gloves. The classic method, simpler and cheaper. As easy as getting on a ladder and removing the waste yourself. It will probably only be practical if the gutter is not high and has a short run, and even then you may want to try other more comfortable methods.

Cleaning with tools. In the market, you will find specific tools for this cleaning, such as gutter cleaners, which work both short, climbed on a ladder, and long, if you adapt a telescopic handle to them.

Leaf blower. You can also use a leaf blower to remove dry leaves and loose debris from the gutter, but it won't do you much good with embedded dirt or large buildups of debris.

Gutter cleaning robot. The best system to save time and effort: it cleans automatically and autonomously for both circular and rectangular gutters, regardless of whether the hooks are at the top or bottom. It involves a greater economic investment, so it will almost certainly only interest you if you have a long route of gutters to clean.

With a pressure washer. It's an ideal method for clearing a clogged downspout of dry leaves and other debris. Depending on your needs, you can attach different accessories to increase its functionality:

Angled spear. It allows the pressure washer gun to grow to be able to carry out the task from the ground, without the need to use stairs or climb on the roof. It is highly recommended for single-story homes, since if it were longer it would not be manageable.

90º nozzle. Similar to the previous one, it is designed to direct the water jet precisely to the exact point. If you want to work from the ground, you will surely have to attach an extendable lance to comfortably reach the gutters.

Gutter cleaning kit. With this system you will be able to clean the gutters from the ground with minimal effort, since the cleaning trolley, once assembled, advances along the gutter, eliminating the residue thanks to the water pressure transferred by the hose. Of course, you will have to climb the ladder to mount it.