Tips on Cleaning Out Your Gutters

Have you imagined living in a home with no gutter? What do you think will happen? Can you imagine how much damage it would bring to your landscape and the foundations of your home?

The art of having long-lasting gutters is by not neglecting the home's gutter system. Cleaning is only required a couple of times a year, especially during fall. If you regularly clean your gutters, you don't need to hire a contractor to do the maintenance or do the cleaning for you; you can do it again on your own, unless you encounter a problem that would require professional help. Before you start, you may want to prepare everything you'll need before going up the gutters like: a ladder, bucket or trash bags, water hose, and cleaning gloves, sometimes a wood chopper or saw.

Here are the steps on how to care for your gutters:

1. Remove debris - This usually stores water which causes your gutter to deteriorate. It also blocks water from evaporating or going down the downspout which will then make the gutter carry unnecessary weight and soon cause problems. Pick-up debris using your hand and make sure you don't push the debris down the downspout, the opening of the downspout should be completely clean and free of anything that can cause it to clog.


2. Flush the gutter with water - Rinse small debris. Caked-on dirt needs to be flushed with water to soften, so it is easily removed.


3. Check the frame - The frame should be even and not falling-off. Usually, when part of the gutter is falling-off, there is a problem on its foundation and may require professional help. What you can do is identify what causes it to fall-off, and let the contractor do the rest.


4. Chop of tree branches that rest on the gutters - You probably know why. The pressure causes irregularities that would later cause your gutter to weaken and fall-off.

Remember the art of keeping your gutters and downspout clean. These are very simple and straight forward, all you have to do is understand why you are doing it and the results of getting it done. Cleaning and regular spot checking of your gutter system is a necessary home maintenance project and it is not a hard process. Doing this regularly will ensure a safe, happy, and protected home for you and your family. Have you already checked your gutters?