Give your gutters a thorough clean at least twice a year to help prevent the buildup of debris. Here are a few tips to get started.
Especially in rainy weather, gutters play an important role in protecting your roof and house from water damage. Without regular cleaning, gutters can clog and cause water to pool back onto your roof which can lead to leaks. If you give your gutters a thorough clean at least twice a year, at the end of the Spring and Fall seasons, it will help prevent the buildup of debris. Here are a few tips to get started.
Safety First
If you are planning to clean your gutters on your own for the first time, then you should make sure you have the right protective equipment. Gloves are a must, to keep your hands safe from sharp or rusty metal, bugs, and other surprises that might be hiding in your gutters. You should also get a sturdy pair of goggles so that you don’t have to worry about sweeping debris into your eyes. Most importantly, whenever you do anything on your roof, you have to make sure that your ladder is secure. It’s best to have someone hold the bottom of the latter for you so that it won’t have a chance of tipping over.
Cleaning Methods
If your gutter is full of dry leaves, then a leaf blower is an easy way to clear it out. This is where goggles, and a dust mask, come in handy. But chances are that anything collecting in your gutter will be soaked from accumulated water. In that case, you can scoop debris out of the trough of your gutters with a spade, your hand, a brush, or a gutter-cleaning tool you can find at the hardware store. Next, use a hose to thoroughly rinse out your gutters.
Trouble Areas
Don’t forget that the downspout will also need attention. Because water from the gutters all flows out through the downspouts, debris also tends to accumulate and clog in them. The vertical nature of a downspout makes it seem difficult to unclog, but you can use a plumber’s auger to unclog it from the bottom. Once you have taken out as much debris as you can, get back to the hose to help flush out the rest.
Gutters and Roofing from Blair Construction!
For the maintenance your roof needs done by professionals you can trust, contact Blair Construction. We have been serving our valued Maryland customers for almost thirty years and look forward to giving your roof the care it needs for years to come.
Contact us online or give us a call at (410) 729-0777 to get a free in-home estimate. To see examples of our work and get updates on what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Houzz.