Fall is a special time of the year. Sweaters, bonfires, football and trips to the cider mill are the hallmarks of the season. So, too, is the annual battle with leaves. As the leaves begin to die and drift from trees they don’t just accumulate on the grass, they also land on roofs and ultimately start clogging up gutters.
Clogged gutters can go unnoticed by homeowners until the obvious happens, they don’t do what they are supposed to do.
How do you know your gutters are clogged?
Savvy homeowners realize that once their gutters become packed with leaves and other debris, they become less effective in doing their job, which is to channel the water to the downspouts and away from the foundation of the home.
A gutter heavy with debris can also cause ice to build up and damage the roof and interior walls and ceilings and can also pull away from the home causing damage to fascia boards. That’s why it’s important to keep your gutters clean. There are various ways to do so.
How do you keep gutters clean?
The safest way to clean gutters is to hire a professional. A home improvement company that installs gutter systems is a good place to start. There are no certifications for gutter cleaners, but it is advisable to spend some time checking the background of the gutter cleaner you are hiring and to ask some key questions about their business.1
As with any business, how long the company has been in business is a good indicator of the quality of their work and their professionalism and expertise. Window cleaning companies, roofing companies and pressure washing companies may also offer to bundle their services with gutter cleaning, which can be an economical and efficient way to get several home chores done at the same time.
Be sure that the company is insured in order to protect you from having to pay for a gutter employee’s injury on your property or for any damage the gutter company employee may cause to your property. Commercial general liability coverage is what would cover the gutter company in case of an accident and the typical policy has $1 million in coverage.2
What about gutter guards?
Gutters with gutter guards also need inspection and, if warranted, cleaning at least twice per year. While basic gutter guards generally keep large debris like leaves and twigs out of your gutters, the screens in these guards still enable small dirt particles to enter the gutter.3 Over time these dirt particles accumulate and can clog the gutter.
The more expensive micromesh style gutter guards are less likely to allow any debris to accumulate in the gutters. Micromesh gutter guards should be inspected every two years and cleaned if necessary.4 No matter which type of gutter guards you have, if you have a lot of trees nearby you may have to inspect and clean your gutters more frequently.
To clean gutters with gutter guards it is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions which often require using a screwdriver or cordless drill to remove fastenings. After removing the guards, you would proceed to clean the gutters just as you would if you didn’t have gutter guards.
Is it safe to clean my own gutters?
The safest way to clean your own gutters is to stay on the ground while doing so. This can be accomplished by attaching your garden hose to a gutter cleaning attachment, which is a rigid pole with a curved end.5 Be sure to wear protective eyewear and waterproof clothing as water and debris do splash out of the gutters while you are cleaning them.
You can also clean gutters from the ground with a wet/dry vacuum which is equipped with a special attachment for cleaning gutters. Once debris is removed you would use a garden hose to flush any remaining organic matter from the gutter.
Cleaning gutters yourself using a ladder or standing on the roof is strongly discouraged. While it may seem that that the cost of hiring a professional or doing it yourself from the ground may be an unnecessary expense, falling from a roof or a ladder can be more costly or even deadly. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that over 500,000 people are treated each year for ladder-related injuries and 300 people die each year from their injuries.6 Gutter cleaning is one job best left to the professionals. #####
Gutter Installation and Maintenance Services Near You
Get in touch with us here at Excel Home improvement in Romulus for your home’s gutter, roof and siding needs. Our home improvement services are highly regarded throughout the area due to our quality workmanship, products and materials. If you need exterior home repairs, a new roof installation, gutter installation, or new siding, we’ll get the job done properly and efficiently. It all starts with an inspection and No Obligation estimate. Call or visit us online today!
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1 The Best Gutter Cleaning Services of 2024 by Nicole Fallon-Peek and Jeff Keleher, 11/14/2023
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-gutter-cleaning-services/#:~:text=When%20searching%20for%20the
2 What Type of Insurance Does a Gutter Cleaning Business Need? by Yassin Elsayed, 10/25/2023
Link: https://www.zensurance.com/blog/what-type-of-insurance-does-a-gutter-cleaning-business-need
3, 4 How to Clean Gutters with Gutter Guards by Jouviane Alexandre, 3/19/2024
Link: https://www.angi.com/articles/do-gutter-guards-mean-no-more-cleaning.htm
5 How to Clean Gutters: 5 Effective Ways to Get the Job Done by Glenda Taylor 11/7/2023
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-gutters/
6 National Ladder Safety Month: Ladder Accidents in the Home Are Preventable, 1/19/2023
Link: https://www.americanladderinstitute.org/page/NationalLadderSafetyMonthLadderAccidentsintheHomeArePreventable