Spring Cleaning Your Gutters

With the arrival of spring comes spring cleaning. While most homeowners think of this as an indoor chore, the outside of your house needs plenty of attention, as well. In particular, gutters can get extremely messy over the winter.

​This leads to headaches and possible dangers if they aren’t cleaned properly. Today, we’ll give you a basic primer on what to watch out for when cleaning gutters and how to clean them safely.

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​Know What You’re Dealing With

Winter causes buildup of several natural materials in gutters. Homeowners who live in cold, snowy climates are especially vulnerable to messy gutters because the weather prevents them from getting outside for spot-cleaning. When tackling the gutters this spring, pay special attention to these common findings:
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• Ice: Winter’s cold temperatures may have refrozen existing ice or caused buildup of snow drifts. It’s not safe to simply let this melt; you could end up with an ice dam. Ice dams can cause significant roof and wall damage on the interior and exterior. In fact, ice dams can make your roof cave in if they’re severe enough.
• Leaves, roots, and twigs: High winds tend to blow these into gutters, and they can get stuck. Cumbersome roots and branches can be dangerous to remove; see our safety tips below.
• Dirt, pebbles, and debris: Although dirt looks light and easy to move, cleaning it out can be a heavy, dangerous job. You may come across hidden debris such as pebbles, loose shingles, or dead insects.
• Rust and corrosion: This isn’t usually “cleaned” from gutters, but should be removed to increase your home’s cleanliness and curb appeal.

Cleaning Safety

Since gutters are part of your roof and you may be moving heavy debris, it’s crucial to stay safe. Follow these guidelines:

• Use a sturdy ladder. The best ladders will have shelves strong enough to hold at least a five-gallon bucket for debris collection. Ideally, have a spotter with you to hold and steady the ladder.
• Check for electrical cables connected to the roof. If any electrical cable near your gutters has been damaged or is worn, do not try to repair it; call a professional. Do not use a metal ladder or metal implements when cleaning gutters near power lines.
• Before getting on the ladder, use a rake to remove debris from your roof. You can also use a garden hose with a pistol-grip nozzle. Spray toward the downspout so water and debris can flow downward from it. Unclog all downspouts before using the hose; if it’s your first time doing this, consult a reputable source.
• Use sturdy gloves and a gutter scoop for dirt and other debris.
• Wear protective eyewear when unclogging downspouts, since debris can move at high speeds once water hits them. Keep your eyewear on while cleaning the gutters, especially if you’ll be dealing with cumbersome branches or twigs.
• Use a roof rake with an extendable handle to remove ice and snow. You can use this in conjunction with ice-melting roof tablets, but they may not eradicate all the ice. It’s inadvisable to climb onto a roof to remove ice.

If you’d rather not tackle these tasks on your own, Colorado Seamless Gutters offers several gutter cleaning maintenance plans to fit your needs. Contact us today to learn more.