Best Practices For Gutter Cleaning And Maintenance
Best Practices For Gutter Cleaning And Maintenance
Gutter cleaning and maintenance are vital parts of maintaining your home in Amador County, California. Gutters are meant to change the direction of water running off your roof into a collection or drainage system via the downspouts. They tame the water from running over your house and damaging the paint job.
Unfortunately, gutters also collect twigs, leaves, and dirt. If too much debris collects in your gutters, rainwater tends to overflow and spill over the edges right over the walls. Additionally, if your gutters have cracks or loose joints, they might allow water to trickle over the walls and create water stains.
Gutter cleaning is not fun, but it’s something you have to do to protect your house against damage. Here are some essential gutter cleaning and maintenance best practices for your reference.
Use A Ladder
You won’t believe the number of ladder-related accidents that occur each year involving DIY-minded homeowners. Select a well-balanced and sturdy ladder for your gutter cleaning tasks. Most wooden and fiberglass ladders tend to be unstable and weak. If you’re cleaning a one-story structure, a four-legged ladder will do. Anything higher than that would require an extension ladder.
Wear Gloves
You might easily overlook the need to wear hand protection when cleaning the gutter. However, gloves are critical, considering all the hazardous and sharp objects that you come across when cleaning gutters. Additionally, due to wear and tear, some sections of the gutter edges might have sharp cracks that could easily pierce into your unprotected fingers. Find a reliable and durable pair of gloves that will outlast this and other home improvement projects.
Ask for assistance
Gutter cleaning should ideally not be a one-person project. There are so many hazards involved, such as falling off the ladder, hazardous objects, and the possibility of being overwhelmed by the job. Have someone to help you out and monitor the situation as you climb up the ladder and forage through the debris that is clogging your gutters.
Protect your eyes
Again, you can easily overlook the risk of having random objects fly into your face while cleaning your gutters. Eye protection is particularly vital if you want to use a leaf blower to blow debris from the gutters. When gutter cleaning, wear protective eyeglasses or goggles to prevent a tragic eye accident.
Clean regularly
Don’t wait until your gutters are fully clogged before cleaning them. Bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms can breed in the wet debris held in the gutters and cause all manner of health issues if left for too long. Cleaning your gutters twice per year is the best option, but at least make sure to have them cleaned in in late October or November.
However, if your compound is full of tall trees that shed leaves more often, it may be in your best interest to consider cleaning your gutters every three months.
Regular cleaning will also help delay rust and corrosion, which is often caused by debris clogged inside the gutters.
The Bottom Line
If water doesn’t drain freely off the roof through the downspouts, there is going to be a problem, sooner or later. Regularly clean your gutters to get rid of any dirt and debris, and flush off any clogging dirt in the downspouts using a hose. Flush out any dirt from the gutters and lightly scrub the inside of the gutter using a stiff brush.
You may also need to adjust the slope of the gutters so that any collected water can keep flowing towards the downspouts. Check downspouts for rust, peeling or flaking paint, as well as leaks. If you notice any damage, have it fixed as soon as possible.
Why Choose Michael Hines Painting To Be Your Gutter Cleaner In Amador County?
At Michael Hines Painting, we believe in the value of lifetime relationships. We believe in taking the care and time to not only do the job well but expertly. That is why we will never sacrifice the quality of our work or provide you with poor service.
Not ready to call us yet? We suggest you listen to what some of our clients video Reviews, or to read a little bit more about what drives our passion for protecting your home check out Our Story!
If you’re looking for an Amador County gutter cleaning company that can expertly complete your home maintenance project, or there is anything we can do for you- Please just let us know.
Michael Hines Painting & Pressure Washing has the knowledge and training to help you protect your house. We are eager to show you the quality, confidence and peace of mind our services will bring to your home.
Please call us right now at 209.256.4587 to get started. We look forward to hearing from you. Or contact us at Galt House Painter, our other painting company based on Galt, CA.
