Thoroughly cleaning your home's gutters every spring and fall will keep them working properly. Make sure you know how to keep them clean!
Gutter maintenance is a crucial part of home maintenance. Leaves can build up and clog the downspouts on your gutters, which can cause water damage to your roof and the board behind the gutter. Water overflowing from the gutters or leaking through can end up next to your home's foundation or in the basement. Keeping your gutters clean can help prevent water damage to your house!
Cleaning Gutters
Tip: A hose attachment designed for cleaning gutters may make this project a lot easier.
Step 1: Begin cleaning the gutter near a downspout
Step 2: Remove large debris like leaves and twigs with a trowel and dump it into a bucket.
Step 3: To remove finer materials, flush the length of the gutters with a hose, starting at the end opposite the downspout. Alternatively, you can use a gutter-cleaning hose attachment. If the water doesn't drain, recheck the downspout strainers and clean as necessary.
If the water still doesn't drain, the downspout may be clogged.
- Check the drain end. If the downspout runs underground, remove it from the pipe as needed.
- Install a small nozzle on the hose and lock it at full pressure. Turn on the water and feed the hose up from the bottom of the spout. If this doesn't clear the downspout or the nozzle is too big, use a plumber's snake tool to clear the blockage.
- Reattach the downspout.
- Flush the entire gutter again.
- Be sure to clear the downspout strainers.
Safety
Cleaning your gutter from the roof can be dangerous and is never recommended. Always clean your gutters while standing firmly on a ladder. Avoid standing on the top three rungs and don't reach past the side rail. When working from a ladder, use one bucket for gutter debris and another for carrying tools, and use wire hooks to attach the buckets to the ladder. Make sure the area below the gutter is clear at all times while you work.
Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping your gutters clear? Tell us about them in the comments below!
