Regular gutter cleaning is the unsung hero of home maintenance. This critical task protects your house from foundation damage, shingle damage, and structural issues.
Gutter systems channel gallons of water away from your foundation and walls to prevent water damage. But clogged gutters can cause leaks and other costly repairs. Visit Gutters Colorado Springs for more information.
1. Inspect Your Gutters
Gutters are designed to protect the foundation of your home from water damage. However, clogged gutters allow water to spill over the sides and enter your home. This water can cause mold, warped window frames, sagging walls and damp basements. A thorough gutter cleaning and inspection can prevent these problems and extend the life of your gutters.
Gutter inspections should be done at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in fall. This maintenance ensures the integrity of your gutter system and identifies any potential issues, such as leaks or loose attachments. Inspecting your gutters will also help you avoid costly repairs in the future.
A detailed inspection should look for any signs of wear or tear, as well as rust or loose screws. It should also check the downspouts for dents, cracks or clogs. If you notice any of these issues, they should be repaired or addressed immediately. Regular inspections can identify small problems, such as a leaking roof in Denver or sagging gutters, and prevent them from becoming serious problems that require expensive repairs.
During the inspection, it is important to note where the gutters are positioned on your house and whether they are properly sloped. If the gutters are not sloped correctly, they may overflow during rainstorms and cause water to flow into areas of your home that it shouldn’t, such as window sills, walls, basements or crawl spaces.
Before you start working on your gutters, make sure to have all the proper equipment. A leaf blower, wet/dry vac or garden hose with a pressure washer can all be used to clean your gutters. If using a pressure washer, be careful not to use too much water and direct the spray away from your windows and siding, which could damage them. Start by clearing one section of the gutter and work your way around the house. Remember to reposition the ladder as needed and be careful not to overextend yourself, which can lead to injuries.
Once the main debris has been removed from your gutters, it is time to inspect your downspouts for clogs or other issues. A downspout that is clogged can cause water to overflow the gutter system and create an environment that can promote mold, rot and insect infestations.
2. Remove Debris
Gutters are a key part of your home’s defense against water damage. However, over time gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, debris and other contaminants. When this happens, rainwater is forced over the sides of your gutter system or into your home, potentially causing water leaks, foundation damage, mold and mildew, and landscaping washout. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent these issues and save you time and money in the long run.
Clogged gutters are also a breeding ground for pests and rodents. When insects and critters nest in dirty, overflowing gutters, they can eventually find their way inside your house and cause damage to your furniture, walls, ceilings, and floors. Gutters that are regularly cleaned and protected by solutions like LeafFilter Gutter Guards can help prevent these problems and keep your home safe from pests.
During your spring cleaning session, begin by removing all the debris from the gutters. This may require a ladder, work gloves, garden trowel, and a bucket or bag to collect the materials as you go. If you’re struggling to remove packed-in or caked-on material, you can try using a hose with a gutter cleaning attachment. Be sure to carefully position your hose so that the spray is directed away from fascia, siding, and roofing.
You’ll want to clear your downspouts as well, which are crucial to ensuring that rainwater is properly directed away from your home. Use a garden hose with a nozzle attachment to flush out downspouts and remove any debris that is ledged in the gutter system. Make sure to check and replace downspout strainers as needed. It’s also a good idea to schedule mid-summer and late fall gutter cleaning sessions, which will address debris accumulation from summer storms and weed growth, respectively.
3. Clean Your Downspouts
Clogged gutters don’t just look bad; they prevent rainwater from draining properly and can cause water damage to fascia, soffit, and the roof. The best way to avoid costly problems is to maintain a functioning gutter system through regular cleaning and inspections.
In addition to removing leaves and debris, a downspout cleanout is a good time to flush out the downspout and check for leaks or other problems that need repair. If your downspout is clogged, first try using a garden hose with a narrow spraying attachment to dislodge the blockage. If this doesn’t work, cover the opening of the downspout with a bucket and use a hand auger (also known as a plumber’s snake) to clear out the clog. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when working with a hand auger.
Once you have the downspout free, rinse it with a hose to make sure the water flows freely through to the ground below. Also, take this opportunity to examine the gutter system and replace any damaged or missing downspout hangers or connectors.
Finally, inspect the tree limbs surrounding your home to make sure they aren’t touching your gutters or too close, which could cause damage in a storm. If a tree limb needs to be cut back, contact a professional to have the job done safely.
Gutter cleaning isn’t a fun or easy chore, but it’s important to keep up with so you can avoid expensive repair and maintenance costs. For a fast, efficient and safe gutter cleaning solution, call Mr. Handyman today to schedule a local technician near you! Our experts have an average of 10 years of experience and the Done Right Promise. We’ll give your home a quick, comprehensive inspection and provide an estimate before beginning the work. We’ll also offer you tips on how to prevent future clogs and other maintenance issues.
4. Rinse Your Gutters
Gutters whisk away thousands of gallons of water every day, directing it from your home to prevent foundation damage and landscape erosion. However, if they become clogged with leaves, debris, and gunk, it has nowhere to go; instead, it collects around the home and seeps into the exterior and interior of your house, damaging the fascia boards, roof, siding, and more. To keep your gutters working properly and your home safe, you need to take care of them by cleaning and inspecting them regularly.
A good time to start is during the spring, before summer storms deposit additional debris and clog existing sagging sections of the gutter system. You also want to look for warning signs of trouble, like visible plant growth, sagging gutters, and water or staining along the siding or foundation. These problems can result in serious structural damage, so it’s important to catch them early.
Rinsing your gutters is an essential part of spring cleaning that can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Using a pressure washer or garden hose with a nozzle attachment, rinse the gutters to remove any remaining debris and wash away the gunk from accumulated ice and salt deposits that can cause corrosion over time. After rinsing your gutters, use a ladder to inspect them for any dents, holes, or broken components and make repairs as needed.
Regular gutter cleaning can protect your home from costly repairs and improve its curb appeal. However, if you find the job intimidating or your gutters are located high up on your home, consider hiring a professional service to take care of it for you. Professional services will also perform inspections and recommend any necessary maintenance to help you avoid costly repair bills in the future. And, if you’re looking for an easy way to minimize the need for manual maintenance, consider installing gutter guards that filter out debris and promote proper water flow all year round!
