Were you aware of the fact that the average gutter can collect anywhere between roughly 40 and 250 pounds of different types of debris every single year? This means that you are going to need to be sure that you are cleaning out your gutters on a semi-regular basis, especially if you live under or around lots of trees. If you don’t, this gutter buildup can potentially cause you and your home all types of different damage, some of which includes infestations by mosquitos, floods, foundation damage or erosion, and even roof damage.
Here is everything you will need to know in order to clean your gutters and avoid all of the above-mentioned expensive damages.
The Tools that You Will Need
Before you are able to clean out your gutters, you are going to have to have the right set of tools (have you ever seen a plumber show up for a job without a plunger and a wrench?). According to Gutter Wiz, these tools include:
- A sturdy ladder (whenever you are using a ladder, it is always recommended that you have s spotter with you to help hold it steady)
- A pair of outdoor gloves
- A bucket that is roughly 5-gallons
- A garden hose that is long enough to reach the gutters
Once you have the correct tools, it is time to clean your gutters.
How to Clean Out Your Gutters
While it may sound like an extremely daunting task, cleaning out your gutters should only take you about an hour or so, which isn’t that bad of a tradeoff considering you are about to have the absolute cleanest gutters on the entire block. Here are the simple steps that you can take to clean your gutters and help protect your home from water damage and flooding.
Step #1: You are going to want to start out your gutter cleaning journey by setting up your ladder and climbing it until you are roughly eye level with your gutter system. With your gutter cleaning gloves on, start to grab any and all of the debris that may have collected in your gutters, including every single twig and leaf that you are able to. Continue moving down your gutter, putting all of the debris that you collect into your bucket.
Step #2: After you have removed all of the debris from your gutters, do a quick check for any type of holes, dents, or corrosion. If there are any small sized holes, you are going to want to cover them with some painter’s tape so they will be easier to locate to fix at a later time.
Step #3: This is going to be when you determine whether or not your gutters are flowing as they should be. With the hose, run some water through your gutters. If the water starts to pool up, you are going to need to increase the grade of that section of gutter so that the water will drain more efficiently. If the water is flowing to the downspout, your gutters will be in great shape and clean as well.
