Gutter cleaning is a crucial part of maintaining hour homes. Cleaning gutters not only prevents future water damages, it helps in preventing several health hazards that may be caused due to overflow of gutter water and even prevents structural damages that can be caused to your home. In this article we are going to tell you why you should clean gutters and how you can do it.
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Why is gutter cleaning important?
Prevents water damage
The main function of gutters is to channel wastewater. Once they get clogged with dirt and debris, the water starts overflowing and it can cause major damage to your home.
Prevent damages to the foundation
A clogged gutter can cause cracks and erosion in the foundation of your home. Regular gutter cleaning is important in order to prevent such damages and save money in the long run.
Prevent basement flooding
Clogged gutters lead to water overflow and then accumulation of water that increases the chances of basement flooding. Basement flooding can also cause many diseases, hence gutter cleaning is important to prevent health hazards as well.
Gutter cleaning process
The first step is to gather safety gear such as gloves and goggles. Besides this, you should also keep a ladder with you. Then you should start by cleaning the large particles that clog the gutter such as, branches, leaves etc; You can take the help of a garden trowel to clean out the debris.
Once you have cleared out all the large impurities, you can use a garden hose to flush the water down the gutter through the downspouts. This will also help you identify blockages and will make sure that there is free flow of water. If the water does not flow freely, that indicates that there are blockages.
As the next step, you can check and fix the potential damages such as rust and loose screws or bolts. If there are any holes in the gutter, you can purchase a gutter repair kit to patch it up. In case there is rust, you can use a rust converter and then apply a rust primer to protect the gutter from further damage. It is necessary to constantly check the gutter for such damages to avoid a major damage that may happen someday if these issues are not treated on time.
In order to clean the downspouts, the first step is to detect the blockage. Once you determine the presence of stubborn debris that might be something causing the blockage, you can use a plumber’s snake in order to break down the dirt and debris. Besides this, you can also use a pressure washer to remove the stubborn particles. Make sure you adjust the pressure in such a way that you don’t cause damage to the downspout.
Once you get rid of the stuck particles, you should use a garden hose to clean the downspout once again and check once again for loose crews, rust, dirt and debris etc.
Maintenance after gutter cleaning
Once you are done with the gutter cleaning process, here is how you can maintain it in order to avoid further damages:
- Clean the area around the gutters in order to prevent substances like leaves, branches and twigs from clogging it.
- Install gutter guards that can act as a barrier and prevent large particles from entering.
- Do thorough cleaning at least two times annually.
FAQs
Are there any special tools for gutter cleaning?
You will need a plumber’s snake, a garden hose and a pressure washer to clean the gutter.
You will need a plumber’s snake, a garden hose and a pressure washer to clean the gutter.
If your gutter overflows during rains, or is sagging then it is a sign that the gutter may be clogged and may require cleaning.
Can a pressure washer damage the gutter?
Yes, pressure washers can cause damage to the gutter so it is important to reduce the frequency when using it.
Can roof leaks be caused by clogged gutters?
Yes, gutters can definitely cause roof leaks as the overflowing water can damage the roofs.
Do I need to hire a professional to clean the gutters?
Gutter cleaning is quite an easy and straightforward process that does not require any special skill. Hence, it is not at all necessary to hire a professional to clean the gutters.
Should I clean my gutters before winters or after winters?
You should definitely clean the gutters before winters in order to prevent the buildup of water as the snow melts after winters. If you don’t clean it before winter, you should clean it in early spring.
How should I install gutter guards?
Some gutter guards are DIY friendly and can be easily installed by anyone, whereas some require professional help. You can follow the manufacturer’s instructions in order to install gutter guards by yourself.
Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com