HOW TO CLEAN GUTTERS

Posted by Mudassar Hassan on November 16th, 2018

Your gutters help keep your home in good condition. By cleaning these on a regular basis, you will avoid damage to the foundations, because a clogged gutter will run water along the walls of the house. To help prevent damage to foundations, landscaping, sanitary voids and other surfaces of the building, the gutters must be well maintained!

Luckily, most people can accomplish this task. Gutter cleaning should be done at least twice a year, and while it may seem like a daunting task, it is important to do it. So, roll up your sleeves, put on gloves and follow our step-by-step guide to remove leaves, debris, and litter that has accumulated in your gutters.

Tips on gutter cleaning                      

How often should gutters be cleaned?

Gutters should be cleaned at least once a year, but we recommend doing this twice a year. Of course, too much rainwater and rubbish will accumulate as a result of heavy storms, so it's especially important to make sure your gutters are clean because they can easily become clogged if you neglect to occupy. Eavestrough repair Toronto give the best equipment to wash the gutter.

Equipment needed to wash gutters

First, it is important to wear the right clothes and to be well equipped for this kind of task. Wear long sleeves, long pants and rubber gloves that cover up to half of your arms. Wearing a mask is also recommended to protect against flying debris. After that, you'll need a reliable and robust expandable ladder. It must be equipped with stabilizers to prevent the ladder from damaging the gutter. In addition, you will need equipment to remove dirt.

A child's shovel can work, but if you do not have one at hand, you can pick up a small plastic shovel from your hardware store. It is recommended to put a plastic tarp under the gutters to catch any falling debris. Also have a hose at your disposal to wash the gutters after emptying them.

Adopt a safe use of the ladder

When cleaning gutters, it is very important to adopt a safe use of ladders. Unfortunately, most accidents during renovations take place because people do not know how to use a ladder. Before you start cleaning the gutters, alert a relative or neighbor that you will be using a ladder. In addition, before going up the ladder, check that the floor under the ladder is very stable.

The ladder you choose to use should be able to accommodate a medium sized seal, which you will use to gather debris. It should be equipped with four legs. Do not select a three-legged scale for this type of task, as this kind of model can easily become unstable. Before starting work, inspect the ladder to see if any parts are missing or are missing and make sure all screws and bolts are tightened. Once all these steps have been completed, go up the ladder quietly to remove the dirt accumulated in the gutters.

Clean the gutters: some tips

Once you have settled on the ladder, start removing the debris with a small shovel or other tool that can be used for this task. No matter which tool you choose, be sure to wear gloves. Once all the dirt has been removed, run the water into the gutter and check that the flow is good and that there are no leaks or holes. Also watch the descent to see if any debris has settled inside, blocking the flow.

To do this, put the garden hose to full power and run it downhill. If the water that comes to the end of the descent is less abundant than the one that you make it flow, there is certainly a blockage. If you have discovered a blockage, remove the tip of the garden hose and enter it in the descent to dislodge the detritus that has remained. Also, please check that the gutters are firmly attached to the side of the house.