Gutters are a great way of directing water away from the house. But keeping it clean from accumulating leaves and other debris clogging is difficult. And when the debris builds up, it makes the water trapped in the gutter which results in rusting and break away. It can also cause ice damming and the replacement cost would be huge.
Gutters should be cleaned at least 2 times in a year in the early spring or the fall. There is a simple task that can be followed to keep the gutter cleaner. Keep reading to find how –
Start With a Thorough Gutter Cleaning
The best effective way to clean the gutter is by keeping the gutter clean always. Ensure to pull out the debris regularly using a special scoop that is available in the hardware store. Also be sure to clean the branches and twigs, seed pods, leaves, and other debris from the roof as well; so that it will not get washed into the clean gutter when it rains.
Reduce the gutter debris by trimming the trees
The debris found inside the gutter is mostly the decaying leaves, twigs and seed pods that fall from the tree overhanging the roof. And when the debris builds up in the gutter for a longer time, the seeds start germinating. To avoid this it is important to trim the trees away from the roof and gutter system so that it does not fall and get decayed in the gutter, roof, and water drainage systems.
Use gutter guards
There are various styles of gutter guards and gutter covers which cover the part of the roof and the gutter with solid surface and allow the water to run into the gutter underneath it and block the objects fall and clog them up. Some guards are installed directly over the gutter and have placed holes that let the water pass through.
There are simple meshed screens built to keep the debris and nesting of birds away on the gutter. Some are hinged that allow it to be easy so that the gutter will be accessible for thorough cleaning whenever needed.
Contact Local Gutter Company
It is best to hire the gutter company cleaning company so that the time and effort is reduced in cleaning it thoroughly. Hire the trusted company to do any type of gutter work and make it significantly clean the gutter properly.
Safety precautions to consider while cleaning the gutter yourself –
It there is the necessary equipment it is best to do the gutter cleaning to save some money. Ensure that the task can be done safely from a ladder or the roof. If working from the ladder ensure the ladder is sturdy and placed on firm ground. Also, sue a tall step ladder to make the frequent movement easier. Stand on the adder with the hips between the rails and never lean out over the sides. Also, it is important to never stand on the top of two rungs. Ensuring your safety is important. If the roof is higher than a single story, it is better to hire a gutter cleaning service pro instead of landing in the hospital.