Some Gutter Cleaning Tips for Property Owners

Gutters perform a very important job for your home - they channel water safely into drains and prevent it from damaging the foundations of your property. Without gutters, your roof would direct water down to the sidings and foundations of your house - over time, that can cause serious damage. And so, it's very important you inspect your gutters regularly, and ensure that your gutters are not clogged with any debris. If they ARE, then they will not be able to do their job of channeling water, leading to the possibility of the aforementioned problem of foundation erosion.

The most important rule for gutter cleaning is safety. You'll be working relatively high up from the ground in many cases, so you need to ensure you have a strong ladder and ensure it's planted firmly to a flat surface and angled appropriately against your property wall. When working at height, do not try to overstretch. Be patient, and work only within the range you are comfortable working in. You'll need to ensure you wear rubber gloves, and some clothes you don't mind getting dirty (cleaning gutters can be a dirty job).

Now, you COULD pick up debris with your gloved hands, but many people prefer a gutter scoop since they can pick up a lot more in one go. If you have a LOT of leaves in your gutters, a gutter scoop will get the job done faster. it's a good idea to have a tarp on the ground that you can drop debris down onto - you don't want all those dead leaves on your grass.

Once all the debris has been removed, you can now use a garden hose to spray water onto the gutter to check that the gutter is functioning properly. Before doing this, ensure there's no loose debris at all in the gutter.

Saying all of that, it's still a good idea to hire professionals for the first gutter cleaning job. The reason for this is that you can see how it's done, and they can advise you too. Many people choose to hire professionals for every cleaning job because they don't feel competent to complete the job effectively or safely. Certainly, if you are afraid of heights, it's best not to attempt this job and leave it to the experts.

Article kindly provided by gutterssanantonio.net