How to Clean the Gutter Safely

 During a storm, drains and gutters limit the outflow of water from a very large area, where it can flow away from the house. In this way, they protect siding, windows, doors and foundations from rainwater damage and help prevent flooding in basements. This guide will detail how to clean your gutter safely.

SCHEDULE CLEANING

The first thing you need to decide is how you will collect the leaves and other objects that you will remove from the gutter. The method will vary depending on whether the material is wet or dry.

Gutters must be clear of leaves and debris. If they aren't, the drain sockets will become damaged and rainwater will fill them, overflowing. Water that collects in the depressions will cause wood gutters to rot and rust to form sheet metal gutters. Plan to clean your gutters at least twice a year, or more often if your roof is directly under trees or if you live in a region with frequent bad weather. It is very important to work safely on a roof ladder.

CLEANING THE GUTTER BY HAND

This is the most common approach to cleaning gutters largely, because it doesn't require any special equipment. All you need is a ladder, a bucket to put the slime that will come out of the gutters and some gloves to protect your hands while you work. The approach is simple: climb the ladder, reach your gutter and start pulling out everything you find inside. You'll find some pretty gross stuff that's made up of a combination of leaves, dead bugs, pine needles, dirt, and anything else that ends up in there. The hardest part about this method is that it will be very labour intensive. You will have to go up and down your ladder a lot of times and you will have to go and empty the bucket regularly. There really is no other way to make this gutter cleaning method easier.

CLEANING GUTTERS WITH A BLOWER

The conventional method employed on low-pitched roofs is to blow dry debris out of the gutters with a leaf blower. If you use this method, wear goggles and a dust mask and be very careful.

Work from a sturdy ladder extended above the eaves and wear gloves to protect your hands from metal screws.

A better option is to use a gutter cleaning kit that connects to a leaf blower. Again, you'll need to protect yourself from the leaves and debris raining down on you by wearing goggles and a dust mask.

Extension stairs they’re typically best when working along the edge of the roof and are the only option when working a two-story house. With a one-story home, you may be able to do this job on a tall stepladder; whichever ladder you use, never exceed the upper level set by the manufacturer of the ladder. If you don't have a ladder long enough to do the job safely, rent or borrow one. Choose a sturdy ladder and place it on a stable, level foundation. A tall stepladder may be easier to use than an extension ladder. If you must lean an extension ladder against an eaves, protect it by inserting part of it through it. Stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails, and don't lean over the sides. Never stand on the top two rungs.

GUTTER CLEANING WITH WATER JET

If you are looking for the easiest way to clean gutters yourself, then the use of a power washer must surely be at the top of the list. Put into your drain this stream of water can remove just about anything in its path. Unlike a blower, a washer can actually remove nearly every bit of mud in your gutters, meaning you won't have to clean it as often as you would if you used a blower. The other big plus is that you don't have to worry about a thing. After you've sprayed your gutters, just put your pressure washer on top of a downspout and spray until it's clear of debris. The only real downside is that it's a messy job. Using a high pressure hose nozzle fitted to the end of a water hose, flush each side of the gutter, working towards the exhaust outlet. This can be a messy job; try to avoid splashing mud all over the house. If necessary, use a stiff brush to remove encrusted dirt.

If water doesn't flow freely through the drain hoses, try flushing the debris with a hose. If that doesn't work, use a plumber's (snake) auger to free and pull the debris out of the bottom or, in some situations, to push it up from the top.

HOW TO KEEP GUTTERS CLEAN

Inspect and clear gutters in both the spring and fall. You may also need to loosen any dirt that has blown into the gutters and scrub with a stiff brush. The gutters cleaned with a jet of water from a hose, are perfectly removed from the material that has settled in the downspouts.

The slope of the gutters may need to be adjusted from time to time to keep the water moving to the downspouts. Run water through them, and if they drain slowly, reposition them so they angle toward the downspouts at a rate of 1/4 for every 4 inches.

Make sure your downspouts shed water well away from your home. If necessary, add downspout extenders to carry the water away. Also consider concrete or plastic splash blocks, which are sloped slightly and extend away from the house at least 8 inches.

Also check the downspouts for rust, peeling or peeling paint, as well as leaks, and make sure they are tight against the dashboard panels. Check the fascia boards themselves, to be sure they are free from dry rot or anything else, if you need to, replace them with wood preservative treated lumber. Once your roof gutters are cleared of debris, make sure your downspouts are clean. If your downspouts have horizontal extension pipes, remove them to discard the downspouts.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

If there is still standing water after the gutter has been flushed, the gutter may not slope properly and will require adjustment. The length of the system should decrease by at least ¼ every 10 centimetres towards the downspout.

If the gutter isn't pitched enough, detach the hooks and adjust the gutter enough to drain properly, then reattach. It may be easier to work on small sections at a time to keep the entire gutter system from collapsing.

Inspect gutter sections and downspouts for obvious damage and missing parts. Support hooks should be spaced every 2 feet along the eaves.

REPLACE OR ADD HOOKS

Install the screw hooks by marking their location on the gutter, drilling holes in the lip and fascia of the gutter.

Install screw-in or hidden hooks according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most are attached through the back of the gutter and into the dash panel, then hooked to the inside front of the gutter.

If there is no dashboard panel, use the roof hooks with straps, following the package instructions? The typical installation involves stringing a hook through the gutter channel, cutting a strap to the hook, then attaching the hook.