Everything You Need to Know About Gutter Cleaning

There aren’t many people in the world who look forward to cleaning their gutters. It’s a dirty job and at times it can be really labour intensive. The problem is it also needs to be done regularly.

When it comes to your gutters you essentially have two options:

1. You can simply hire someone to clean out your gutters for you or;
2. You can learn how to clean your gutters yourself (and do it the smart way!)

Let’s look a little bit more into this dirty subject and shed some light on the best gutter cleaning methods.

The Importance of Keeping Gutters Clean

Gutters shouldn’t be out of sight, out of mind. They play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of your home. Gutters guide rainwater off your roof and down the drain, so if they get clogged or break, they won’t be doing their jobs correctly.

This would mean that water wouldn’t be able to drain off your roof, causing a leak which could damage the roof, the walls, electrical wires and more. In addition, a damp home could cause health issues for you and your family or housemates.

For this reason, it is important to schedule annual or bi-annual gutter maintenance. It’s also a good idea to check your gutters after any strong storms or winds to make sure nothing has been damaged.

How to Clean Your Gutters

If done regularly, cleaning gutters is a fairly easy task. It can be done with minimal equipment and hopefully with minimal time spent.

We suggest wearing work gloves and safety glasses to protect your hands and eyes. You will also need a sturdy ladder, a cleaning brush, a bucket and the hose.

Step 1

Start by using your hands to remove clumps of debris and dead leaves from the gutters. Empty any dirt and blockages into your bucket. Make sure to do this with one hand while the other hand keeps you steady on the ladder.

Step 2

Once you’ve removed a good portion of debris, use the brush to scrub the gutters (carefully so that you don’t damage them). This will help to remove any residual dirt, grime or debris. Sweep any leftovers into your bucket.

Step 3

Use the hose to clean off any remaining dirt and sludge from the gutters. This is also a test to ensure that water is moving freely and easily to the downpipes and off the roof.

Step 4

Check your downpipes for blockages. Pay close attention to the water coming out of the drains after its runs off the gutters. If it isn’t coming out of the downpipes freely, there is probably a blockage. You can try unclogging it with a stick and the force of more water.

Both regular cleaning and maintenance of your gutters are very important. This small preventative action could save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs in the long run. For help with all of your gutter maintenance and roofing needs on the Gold Coast, contact Ron Nickel Roofing today.