In heavy rain, a clogged rain gutter will send a cascade of water down the side of your house. This can cause serious and costly damage to your home, saturating your foundation, and create issues in your flowerbeds.
Cleaning rain gutters of the leaves and debris that accumulate will help prevent damage to your landscaping and siding, protecting your home from expensive water damage repairs to your foundation.
In this article, we discuss what’s involved in cleaning rain gutters and the tools to clean gutters.
How Often Should You Clean Gutters?
You’ll need to clean rain gutters two to three times per year. Be sure to block off at least a couple hours or even a full day, depending on the size and complexity of your home. Cleaning rain gutters is a tedious and dangerous job that should not be rushed.
Tools to Clean Rain Gutters
Before beginning the perilous climb up the ladder to clean gutters, be sure to gather all of your gutter cleaning tools. Here is a list to help you get started:
- Clothing: Weather a shirt with long sleeves and rubber gloves. Sharp objects may be lodged inside of your gutters and the shirt and gloves will protect your skin.
- Non-slip shoes: Climbing a ladder is incredibly dangerous. Practicing ladder safety techniques and having non-slip shoes is imperative to your safety.
- Extendable Ladder: Having a good extendable ladder readily available is important when cleaning rain gutters. Use a standoff stabilizer to keep the ladder from damaging the gutter.
- Plastic Scoop: A plastic scoop or small shovel will help you remove the dirty, messy debris from your gutters.
- Protective Tarp: Spare your lawn by laying down a tarp before beginning your work. Dump debris onto the tarp for easier removal.
- Hose: After you have cleared the muck out of your gutters, flush them with a garden hose. This will also help you spot any gutter leaks you may have.
Ladder Safety Tips
When using a ladder to clean gutters, it’s important to proceed with the utmost caution and care. Thousands of people fall of ladders every year, injuring themselves, or worse. Here are some of our tips for using a ladder.
- Never overreach when on the ladder: We know it will take more time to climb down the ladder, reposition it, and climb up the ladder to continue working in a new spot, but it is worth it for your health. Many people try to overreach and end up injuring themselves.
- Enlist a friend: Have a friend or family member spot you at all times while using the ladder.
- Rule of threes: Keep two feet and one hand planted on the ladder at all times. This is the sturdiest stance for cleaning gutters.
Hiring Someone to Clean Gutters
Climbing the ladder to clean your gutters multiple times per year may not sound ideal. You may have considered hiring someone to clean your gutters, however, it can get costly. HomeAdvisor explains that cleaning your gutters can cost upwards of $300 per cleaning! At three to four times per year, the cost can add up quick!
A Simpler Solution: Installing Gutter Guards
If you are looking for a hands free approach to gutter maintenance, there is a simpler solution. Having a LeafFilter installed prevents leaves, debris, shingle grit – everything but water – from entering and clogging your gutters.
LeafFilter is a micromesh gutter guard that installs right on top of your existing gutters – saving you thousands of dollars! With LeafFilter, you won’t have to worry about gathering tools to clean gutters or hiring someone to clean them for you. Instead, LeafFilter is a one-time investment that lasts a lifetime.
The holes on the mesh are 50 microns fine, so nothing but water will get through. Once LeafFilter is installed onto your existing gutters, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that your gutters, and your home, are protected for life. Learn more about LeafFilter’s installation process and request a free estimate!
