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Gutter cleaning is extremely essential for the overall health of your house. If gutters are left uncleaned for a long time, they can get clogged and affect the health of your whole house as well as everyone living in them. Therefore, it is significant that the gutters are cleaned timely and properly to avoid any kind of problems. If you leave your gutters clogged for a long time, they can make your whole house collapse! Here are some questions and their answers on gutter cleaning.
How many times a year
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to gutter cleaning is the frequency. This, however, depends on the area you live in. In some places, having your gutter cleaned once a year is more than enough, whereas, in some places, you need to get them cleaned twice to thrice a year. To understand where you stand in the cleaning frequency, observe the place you live in. You often have a lot of leaves and twigs falling on your roof. In that case, it’s easier for the gutter to get clogged and you might have to start cleaning them twice every year. Also, make a note of how much it rains around your area. If you face a lot of rainfall, your gutters must stay unclogged- especially during the rainy season. The best way to go about it is by getting them cleaned in the autumn after the leaves have fallen and then again before spring when rain is the hardest. This will ensure that your gutters do not get damaged or damage your home when it starts raining heavily.
When should you hire a professional
Gutter cleaning can be done properly and efficiently by a professional (click here for gutter cleaning services) and can save you the risk of injuring yourself or damaging the gutters. Professional services should be considered when:
- Your house has more than one level: If you have more than one level in your house, it is highly likely that you will be unable to clean the gutters using the ladder or ground method and will have to go to the roofs to get them cleaned. However, the increased height creates the danger of seriously injuring yourself as a fall from the second level can be damaging.
- You have never cleaned them before yourself: If you have never cleaned your gutters before, likely, you will not know where to start or what to do if something is damaged. Rather, observe a professional before you try to do it on your own.
- The gutters are damaged: If you see a leak or see that the gutters are damaged, it’s better to have a professional fix them properly. Often DIY jobs end up doing more harm than good and costing much more to fix than the original problem.
How to clean gutters yourself
If you are cleaning the gutters yourself for the first time, you must consider your safety first. Using a ladder is the best way to get your gutters cleaned. Do not go onto the roof to get them cleaned as this can lead to injuries. Make sure you have a ladder stabilizer as well as someone who can stay down and help you by passing you the tools.
When it comes to tools, there are many ways you can clean your gutters. If they are clogged, we suggest using a water hose or a scooper. Using a water hose can be a little messy and you will need to stand back and have appropriate clothing on. Water hose might also lead to your exterior walls getting sprayed with debris, so you need to be ready to clean them after as well. The scoop is a safer but more labour-intensive method. When using the scoop, it’s a clever idea to have a bucket or container close by. Just scoop up all the debris and put it in the assigned container to be discarded later.
Always remember to wear proper protective wear like gloves as they ensure that you don’t accidentally touch something that can cause a reaction. Search for loose screws and nails and if you find any, make sure you tighten them. If at any point you find damage to your gutters, contact the professionals. Always clean the gutter downspout as well as the channels to ensure that neither of them gets blocked. Also, pay attention to the bottom of the downspout and clean up any debris so that you can prevent build–up.
How to know if the gutters are clogged
- Increased animal activity: One of the early signs of gutter clogging is seeing more animals around your house than before. The clogged gutters make for the perfect habitat for pests and rodents like squirrels and mice.
- Leaking roofs: The clogged water from your gutters will slowly start leaking from your roof and will, in turn, also be destroying the rooftop.
