Cleaning your gutters is one of the most important things you can do for your home. It will help keep water away from your foundation, prevent mould and mildew, and protect your property from damage. Cleaning gutters can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it’s actually quite simple if you follow these steps put together by our professional roofing and guttering team at RCH Roofing Services:
Hire a Professional
If you have complicated gutter systems or if you’re not comfortable climbing up on a ladder to clean them, it might be best to hire a professional. They will come to your house and clean the gutters for you so that nothing gets damaged in the process.
Check For Clogs
The first step in cleaning your gutters is to inspect them for clogs and debris. If there are any large clumps or masses that have formed in the gutter system, use a broom handle or long stick to dislodge them from their resting place. It may take some effort but this will ensure that you get rid of all of the debris before rinsing out the system with water.
Inspect Leaks
If you’ve noticed water coming out from underneath your roof, it’s time to find out where those leaks are coming from. To do this, take a ladder and climb up onto your roof so you can visually inspect each section of roofing material for any visible signs of damage — cracks or holes — or fluid stains on top of each part of the roofing material that could indicate leaks. If there are any visible signs of leaks in any section of roofing material, now would be a good time to call a professional roofer or gutter specialist to take care of the problem before it worsens over time.
Regular Damage Inspections
Inspect downspouts for damage or blockages and make repairs as needed before cleaning them out with a garden hose. Make sure that downspouts extend at least 2 feet beyond where water usually collects on your property, such as around shrubs or low spots in the yard, so that all rainwater flows away from your house before entering the drain system inlets along the foundation wall at grade level. You may need to install new downspouts if needed
Remove Leaves and Debris
First things first, you need to remove any dead leaves and debris that may be blocking the gutters or hanging in them. You can use a leaf blower or rake to remove these items from the roof area. If there are large leaves or sticks stuck in the gutter itself, you may need to use a garden hose with its sprayer attachment on full blast to dislodge them. Then use duct tape or masking tape around the opening of each gutter to keep it from collecting more debris during cleanup.
Use a Ladder or Gutter Cleaning Tool
You may be able to reach into some parts of your gutters without needing a ladder or any extra equipment, but there are likely other areas where you’ll need one or both to reach properly so that everything gets cleaned thoroughly! Working at height is dangerous work that requires you to use proper safety equipment. It’s important that you wear a harness and lanyard when working on roofs or other elevated surfaces because it allows you to quickly get yourself down safely if something unexpected happens.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
You should clean your gutters at least once per year. If there is a lot of debris inside of them, then you may want to consider cleaning them more often than that. If you live in an area where there are lots of trees around your house and you have a lot of rain during the year then you may want to clean them more frequently as well because this will increase the amount of debris that accumulates inside of your gutter system.
When Should I Clean the Gutter?
The best time to clean your gutters is during the spring or fall. During these times of year, you are likely to have more time available than during the busy summer months. You should also avoid cleaning your gutters during winter, as this can be very dangerous due to icy conditions on roofs and gutters.
Want to know more? Contact our team today!
If you want to know more about keeping your gutters in good condition year round, don’t hesitate to contact our team at RCH Roofing Services today! We provide a huge range of roofing services, including flat roofs, fascias and soffits, guttering services, and roof repairs. Alternatively, if you’re looking for more great advice, check out our Tips for Keeping Your Flat Roof in Good Condition and Maintaining Your Roof in Winter.
