The art of gutter cleaning
By Henry Bockman, President, Henry's Housework Inc.
A great article, originally written for the American market, so it has been mildly edited for the uk.
When Autumn approaches, it's time to clean the gutters on your home. Many homeowners do this project each year to properly maintain their homes. What you may not realise is that most gutter systems should be cleaned 3-4 times a year with each season. You may be wondering why should I clean out my gutters so often? The reason is each season trees go through various cycles that can clog up your gutters. In spring, most trees drop seedlings and dead twigs.
Spring is also the best time to inspect your gutters for any damages that may have occurred during the winter snow. In summer, trees lose leaves from heavy storms and high winds. In early autumn, you should remove leaves that have fallen early to keep your gutters flowing freely.
At the end of the autumn or early winter, you want to make sure everything has been properly cleared from the gutter system to help prevent ice dams or build up of ice in your gutters. The extra weight of frozen water in your gutters can easily cause them to pull away from the fascia and in many cases, fall off the house.
Improper gutter maintenance will lead to clogged or damaged gutters and can cause thousands of pounds (or euros’) in damage to your homes foundation, exterior trim and basements.
To clean your gutters properly, rent a sturdy ladder and get your a neighbour to give you a hand. Ladders can be rented from most local rental centres and hire shops for as little as £20.00 a day.
When using ladders, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to make sure you stay away from power lines, trees and windows. It's a good idea to use a ladder stabilizer to make sure the ladder doesn't crush your gutters or slip while youre doing the cleaning. Ladder stabilizers can be purchased at most hardware stores for about £20.00. Remember your safety is more important than clean gutters, so make sure you get someone to help you.
Thousands of people die each year from falls and electrocution while working on ladders……..and if what you have read so far horrifies you, quite simply my advice is to stop reading this article and get a builder or tradesman in to do it instead.
If you have gutter screens or gutter guards, make sure that they aren't damaged or clogged with leaves and branches. They won't help protect the gutters if the water can't get into them properly and the water may just flow over them making them useless, even if the gutters are clean! Carefully lift the guards to avoid damaging them and remove any leaves or debris under them and then reinstall them properly. You should run water over them to make sure they are working properly. Check your downspouts to see if they have screens at the top and clear them as well. If necessary, use a hose to clear any heavily clogged downspouts and make sure you replace any damaged gutter or downspout screens. While cleaning your gutters, inspect them to make sure the fasteners are properly secured. This can usually be done with a hammer, or in some cases a screwdriver.
You may find that over time, the spikes that hold the aluminium to the fascia board have loosened. Either drive the loose spikes back into place, or replace them with longer ones for improved support. When gutters are loose, the pitch is changed and the water will overflow at low areas. Since you have help from your neighbour, this is also the perfect time to inspect your roof for missing slates and tiles, cracked vent pipe gaskets or bare nails. Make sure you return the favour and help him or her on their house when you're done, although again, it is very unwise to go up onto your roof and I would suggest getting a proper roofing contractor in to do it for you.
Unless you built your home in the desert, chances are you need to think about your rain gutters. Ignore them for long, and you'll get a reminder of why water is considered the most powerful element on Earth.
"Rain gutters play a key role in protecting your home against rain damage," says Scott Seiler of ABC Seamless. "Yet many people don't think about them until a problem develops from neglecting them."
Here are five basic things every homeowner should know about gutters:
1. It's a Dirty Job - Gutters capture roof runoff and help direct it away from the foundations of your house. Water pooling around the foundations can cause soil erosion, rot the siding, create a breeding ground for mould and insects, and cause a host of other problems.
2. Keep it Clean - Yes, you must clean your gutters at least once a year. Twice - in spring and fall - is better. Most people know to remove obvious debris, like leaves, twigs and the occasional bird's nest. You should also scrub the interior of the gutters with a stiff-bristled brush. You can use the same detergent you use on your car to wash the gutters' exterior.
3. Keep it Covered - The best way to keep your gutters cleaned is to employ one of the many systems available that shield them from debris. Screens allow water but not debris to pass through. Guards function in much the same way. Other devices, such as a type of brush that sits in the gutter channel, also work to keep gutters debris-free throughout the year.
4. Don't Forget Downspouts - Maintain your downspouts to optimize your gutters' efficiency. If a downspout is clogged, damaged or missing, the system will fail in its ultimate goal of moving water away from your home. Make sure all downspouts are properly strapped to the house and use an extension to carry water farther from the foundations.
5. Not all Gutters are Created Equal - One inch of rainfall can dump up to 1,500 gallons of water onto the average-sized roof, according to www.savingwater.org. The channels on standard 4- or 5-inch wide aluminium gutters can't handle that volume. Consider upgrading your gutters with a seamless steel system. Stronger than standard gutters, they won't leak because there are no seams where water can seep through, and the channels are 6 inches wide, allowing them to carry 23 percent more water than traditional gutters.
Visit www.abcseamless.com to learn more about seamless gutters and how they can help protect your home.
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