Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts | |
Because you'll be working from a ladder it's convenient to have a helper who can be the 'go-fer' to run and fetch. This speeds up the job and prevents you from making countless trips up and down the ladder. You need two lightweight buckets, work or rubber gloves to protect your hands and a garden hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts after they're cleaned. You can use your hands or a garden trowel to shovel out debris or buy a plastic gutter scooping tool designed specifically for the job. Carefully position your ladder against the house so you will avoid resting it directly on the front edge of the gutter. The direct weight of you and the ladder can crush or severely bend the gutter. One easy solution to this problem it to purchase a ladder stabilizer which is a U shaped aluminum bar that bolts to the top of the ladder and holds it away from the building. It also helps prevent the ladder from twisting or sliding. With or without the stabilizer bar always place the ladder on firm level ground. Move the ladder often. Don't overstretch or reach out so far that you have to bend your body to the right or left when cleaning the gutters or downspouts. Begin cleaning the gutters at a corner close to the downspout. Remove any debris that may be clogging the downspout. Then work your way along the gutter until the bucket is too heavy to handle or it's filled with leaves and debris. Pass the full bucket down to your helper to dispose of and continue filling up the empty one. As you complete work along one stretch of gutter check to see that it is firmly attached to the house. Straighten or replace any faulty gutter hangers. Move the ladder as you work your way around the house and clean the entire system of gutters and downspouts. To check that water in the gutters and downspouts runs free and doesn't leak out flush the system with your garden hose. Caulk any leaks with a good quality acrylic latex caulk. If the opening in the gutter leading to the downspouts constantly clogs, purchase a downspout guard which is a wire basket that prevents leaves from clogging the downspout. If you live in a heavily wooded area consider adding gutter screens which help prevent debris from getting into the gutters. Written by the ediotrs of HouseNet. Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |