Clean Your Gutters!
It’s easy to forget to clean your gutters – out of sight out of mind. However, neglecting your gutters can cause costly issues.
Clogged gutters will cause water to overshoot, which will then fall at the base of your home. How bad could that really be?
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Landscape Erosion
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Flooding
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Foundation Issues
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Roof Leaks
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Mold Growth
Increased weight of your gutters can cause them to pull loos, which can lead to rot behind the fascia. Also these issues are very serious, they are all easily avoidable. How do you know if it is time to clean your gutters?
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Check your downspouts. If you don’t see any water draining out of downspouts, this can indicate a blockage.
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Rain overflow. Water should flow from your roof, over your gutters and down the down downspout. If water is pouring over the top of the gutter, there may be a blockage!
So, what is the best way to maintain your gutters? A simple practice involving a ladder, hose and a garden trowel is all it takes! Scoop and dispose of and debris, then rinse the gutters and downspouts.
Pro tip: avoid cleaning gutters after significant rainfall. Debris is much harder to remove when wet!
A thorough cleaning in the spring and again in the fall is usually enough for most homes, unless you live near a lot of trees.
How to clean your gutters
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Make sure your ladder is place firmly on level ground – safety first!
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Bring your scooping tool and bucket (for easy cleanup) to the gutter and begin removing larger pieces of debris, such as branches, by hand.
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Use your tool to scoop leaves and other debris out of the gutter and into the bucket (if using). Continue this process all along your home’s gutter.
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Once you have removed as much of the debris as you are able, use a garden hose to flush the gutter clean. Be sure to use a spray nozzle on your hose to get maximum water pressure to ensure a clean gutter – power washing can be a great option if you have one!
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Be sure to spray the water towards the downspouts when flushing. This also is a great way to check for leaks!
