When was the last time you thought about your rain gutters? Probably not since the last time you had a problem with them, right? Well, you should be thinking about them at least once a year – preferably during the fall season – when they could use a good cleaning. After all, blocked gutters can cause them to fall, lead to flooding and can even lead to a cracked foundation.
If you want to avoid severe headaches both down the road and in the near future, we strongly encourage you to get outside and clean the gutters. It’s simple. You can tackle the entire project in just about an hour with the simple steps below:
Set up a ladder on sturdy, flat ground near the downspout or section of the gutter that needs to be cleaned first.
Head up on the ladder, we recommend having a buddy hold it in place, and clean out large debris using your hands or a plastic trowel. Toss it into a large bucket instead of throwing it onto your lawn.
Once all the large debris is removed, cleaned out the rest with a garden hose. Attach a spray nozzle and spray toward the downspout.
If you notice a clog in the downspout, spray the hose up inside from the bottom end. If that doesn’t do the trick, you may need to take the pieces apart.
Once all is clear, spray both the gutters and the downspout one final time.
Staying on top of projects like this can help keep your home protected from disasters. Notice a leaky hose or hose bib during the cleaning process? Contact the plumbing professionals at Uptown right away. Leaks can lead to cracked pipes and other problems with your plumbing system as temperatures get down near freezing.
