Clogged gutters can be devastating for your home

With the huge rain storms of late it’s a good time to give your gutters and downpipes some attention, especially as they play an important role in diverting rain from the roof and protecting your home from water damage. If you home’s roof is too high and the gutters are difficult to get to, or you feel uncomfortable on a ladder, rather call a gutter-cleaning professional to do the job.

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Utensils that will help

Depending on the condition and how clogged up your home’s gutters are, the following equipment can come in handy to make gutter cleaning easier.

 

  1. Thick gloves to protect your hands while clearing out the gutters.
  2. A small brush with a handle to sweep the leaves and debris together – a dishwashing brush fits into gutters perfectly
  3. A small garden spade to pick up the debris
  4. Two buckets with handles that can hang from the ladder – one to carry your small items in and the other to put the leaves and dirt into
  5. A hosepipe and cloths to wash and rinse the gutters with
  6. Dishwashing liquid and a sponge if you need to wash algae out of your gutters
  7. A safe and sturdy long ladder that reaches at least two rungs above the gutters
  8. If your roof is low, sometimes a leaf blower can be used to blast dry debris to a collection point – remember to wear safety glasses if using this method

Steps to a cleaner gutter

  1. Always ensure that the ladder is on even ground and secure – it’s preferable to have someone assist you and hold the ladder at the bottom while you are working. Never step higher than the second step at the top of the ladder or over extend your body while working and cleaning the gutters.
  2. Work in small sections, brushing and gathering debris together to transfer into your bucket or collection packet
  3. Move the ladder along the gutter after cleaning each section, making sure the ladder is secure each time you move it
  4. Place a mesh bag or something similar, to catch debris at the bottom of the downpipe. This will make it easier to trap and dispose any waste for the next step
  5. Once the majority of leaves and dirt are cleaned out, place your ladder at the highest end of the gutter and start washing and cleaning section by section again with a hosepipe, working your way towards the downpipe
  6. Unblock any drains from debris that may have washed out from the gutter and dispose of all the collected clog
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By now you should have a good idea of what condition your home’s gutters are in and whether they will need any further maintenance. As tedious and dirty as what cleaning gutters is, putting off this job can be damaging to your gutters and home, plus cost you more in the long run.

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