Fall is amazing as trees start to turn colorful and mark the end of summer. However, this is where the problem starts as the leaves start to cover your rooftop as well as the gutter system. This clogs the gutter making it difficult for the rainwater to go down through the gutter downspout.
If you ignore this issue for a while, you will soon realize that it has started causing damage to your home’s structure from the inside and outside. This may result in an expensive house repair which is why we recommend getting your gutters cleaned every fall.
Why Do You Need to Clean Your Gutters?
When the gutters are filled with leaves, sticks, and debris, they become an ideal home for pests, rodents, and birds. With moisture or water staying in the gutter line for a long time, it starts to become a breeding home for insects, particularly flies and mosquitos after rainfall.
Gutters being clogged due to water settlement not only provide a favorable shelter to the insects but damages the roof structure as well. If the water stays on your roof for a long time not having any way to reach the ground safely, it may seep inside your roof weakening its structure.
If the problem continues for a longer time, the already accumulated water on the roof and gutter can make its way to the inside of your house damaging the foundations of your home badly. This can easily cause you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs.
Clogged gutters allow the water to fall directly onto the walls of your house from the rooftop messing up the wall paint that results in the growth of mold and algae. As the water flows down into the basement, it can enter into the uneven and cracked flooring as well as doors and windows to prevent them from closing properly.
With so much damage to your home, animal nesting cannot come at a bad time. Insects, birds, and rodents love to make their home with leaves and sticks stuck inside the gutters. Gutter cleaning companies in your area can offer free estimates and provide gutter cleaning services to prevent damage and nesting in your gutters.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Most professionals recommend cleaning gutters at least twice a year, however, it also depends on the area you are living in. If your home is surrounded by several trees shedding a lot of leaves in the fall, you may need to clean the gutters twice in the season until the trees shed all of their leaves. You may also do it once after the autumn season is over and once in the spring.
Cleaning the gutters is not a very difficult task and requires 1-2 hours depending on the size of your house. While it can be done manually by yourself, it may pose a risk of injury, as it requires you to climb a tall ladder. However, by taking all the necessary precautions, you can do the cleaning without hiring a professional.
How to Clean Gutters Yourself
There are a couple of things you will need to use for cleaning the gutters. These are-
1. A tall ladder to reach the gutter line
2. A plastic scoop or Trowel for removing leaves
3. A tarpaulin sheet or any cover big enough to collect leaves
4. Some buckets
5. Work gloves and a long-sleeved shirt
6. A garden hose for spraying water
You can additionally use protective glasses to protect your eyes from debris and dirt. The items listed above are recommended by professionals and are useful for effective cleaning in a short time.
To start off, secure the ladder properly to reach the gutters. Make sure your ladder is stable and there is no risk of falling. In addition, it is recommended to never extend your reach and never climb up to the second last step of the ladder, as there is a risk of falling.
Once you reach the gutters, remove the leaves and debris using the scoop or trowel and throw them to the tar sheet spread on the ground. Use gloves if it requires your hands for proper cleaning.
Now it’s time to flush the gutter lines using a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Start flushing from one end to the other where the downspout is connected to the gutters. Spray the water down the downspout line to make sure everything comes out of the downspout and if it looks clogged, spray the water from the bottom to clear up the blockage.
Preventing Standing Water and Clogs in Gutters
Only cleaning won’t ensure that your gutters don’t clog again. After successful cleaning, you should ensure that everything is working as it should. Make sure there is no standing water in the gutter. If the water doesn’t flow, the gutter is not sloped properly. It is recommended to have a slope of 1/4 inch every 10 feet. This will ensure the water doesn’t stay in the gutter line.
Now carefully inspect and fix any leakage in the gutter line and joints with a gutter sealant to avoid drainage from different areas. The next step is to prevent the collection of leaves and debris. This needs some investment but will give you a hassle-free operation for a long time.
We recommend you use a Gutter Guard company to prevent leaves and debris from settling down the gutters. A stainless steel micro-mesh will do the job perfectly and will work for a long time as it is not prone to rust. It will allow a smooth flow of water from the gutters to the downspout and block the leaves from entering the gutters.
How Often Should Gutters be Replaced?
Gutters are either made up of aluminum or copper and they are always enduring the harsh weather outside. Therefore, it is obvious that they will deteriorate with time. As per the National Association of Home Builders, aluminum gutters have an average lifespan of around 20 years but copper gutters have a bigger lifespan of around 50 years and are costlier.
We believe that along with the regular cleaning of gutters, it is also important to maintain the gutter line to prevent clogs. As explained earlier, you should never ignore the leakage of water from your roof to your home as water easily damages the house structure, windows, and doors once it seeps inside through the cracks.
