How To Clean Gutters
Regularly clearing out gutters will stop the system getting blocked which can lead to long term water damage. We recommend clearing gutters bi-annually, or more often if you have trees that hang over your roof and shed leaves.
Safety first...
Clearing gutters is a relatively easy job, but as with all roofing tasks, safety should be paramount and you should take precautions to minimise the risk of accidents.
Always place your ladder on a secure surface and avoid propping it up at any spot that you think may be weak. Use a ladder which allows some overhang on the gutter, using a ladder that is too short is a common cause of accidents. For obvious reasons never attempt to work on a roof or ladder if it’s windy. Where possible, work with a mate so one of you can hold the ladder and help should there be any slip ups.
Clear the debris...
Wear heavy duty gloves and first clear any larger debris and leaves by hand. A milk carton with the bottom cut off makes a good scoop for collecting up anything that has become wet. You can attach a bucket to your ladder to empty your scoop into as you work.
Always move the ladder along and work in sections, never over reach as this is a sure way to imbalance the ladder and fall.
You can clear anything further up the roof with a brush or broom, this will save redoing the job too soon.
Hose it down…
Once you’ve finished clearing by hand you can wash away anything that’s left in the guttering with a hose. Make sure you direct the hose towards the down pipe so it clears properly from the system.
Fixing guttering...
Keep an eye out for areas of damage which you can fix to prevent the need for bigger repairs later on. While you’re there, you may want to inspect the tiles or shingles too.
Preventing future build up…
If you want to avoid this job in future you can fit gutter brushes to prevent future maintenance. Gutter brushes allow easy flow of water but prevents build up of leaves and twigs etc. You can clean the brushes annually with a simple hose down.
Reuse what you’ve collected...
Don’t forget you can compost all of the leaves and mulch ready for next year’s vegetable patch!