Cleaning gutters is a chore that most people ignore with the assumption that it is always clean. Removing muck from the gutter is a remedy to extending the life of the gutter and the rainwater keeps flowing well. Although you can hire someone to clean the gutter, you can avoid spending a lot of money if you do it yourself. Although you should expect to get dirty at the end, the job is worth doing. However, you should have the physical health to scale a ladder and a few basic tools. Read on to learn some of the tips for cleaning gutters.
The first thing you should look into when you want to clean gutters is the type of tools you want to use. The extension ladder is one of the basic tools, which should be at least three feet higher than the edge of the roof. Look for a ladder that has edges so you can be guaranteed that you won’t fall. Other tools you need are work gloves, nonslip shoes, pressure washer, etc. Pay attention to the weather to ensure that you work on a dry day. Digging out dry debris is much easier compared to the task of scoping them if they are wet.
The next step is to set up safely. Ladders can be a risk because statistically, a vast number of people have fallen off, causing deaths of hundreds of people and deaths of thousands in one year. Ensure that you incline the ladder on dry ground at a suitable angle to avoid ladder slipping. For every 4 feet high, you should place the base 1 foot from the wall of the house. Start removing the debris from the downspout avoid chances of clogging. Ensure that you use a gutter scoop or trowel as you put the debris in a bucket.
You also need a high-power garden hose to spray away the remaining debris. The debris should be directed away from the downspout and you check if there are any leaks. You have the chance to check if the gutters are still intact. Pay attention to the seams and in case they are separating, you can chisel out old silicone to replace. Lastly, make sure you repeat the process. You cant clean your gutters once and expect them to remain clean forever. Make it a routine to clean your gutters at least twice annually to prevent damage and keep water flowing. In this link, you will learn more about the reason you should clean your gutters regularly. Although cleaning gutters may sound like a hell of a task, you can now agree that it is worth the effort.