Mill Creek Gutter Pros
Self-Cleaning your GuttersGutters are easy to overlook. But the truth is, they require as much (if not more) attention than other aspects of your property. Adequately cleaned and serviced gutters will last decades. But a season of neglect can also render them useless - a costly mistake. Luckily, we can help you avoid situations like these.
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Let us Help You!Review these self-cleaning tips, and determine:
-If you have the tools -If you are comfortable on a latter -If you have the time to commit to gutter cleaning Contact us and we will be happy to discuss your project |
Self-Cleaning Tips
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Clean your gutters at least twice a year – and more if you live adjacent to extensive trees or evergreens. A thorough cleaning in the early Spring will help to mitigate against damage caused by heavy spring rains and stormy weather, and will make way for the coming accumulation of debris during the Summer. While the weekend may seem like the best day to clean, we suggest waiting for a few days after rain. This gives any debris in the gutters time to dry – otherwise your task will be both more challenging, and messier.
When you begin, gather the proper tools:
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Begin with a safety check. If you’re using a harness, ensure you’re clipped in, and the ladder is stable. Put your rag, scoop, and other tools in the bucket, and hang it from the ladder or gutter.
Start by scooping out large debris from the gutter. Either dump it into another bucket, or throw it onto a tarp in the driveway/yard (this simplifies cleaning afterwards). Once major debris is cleared, secure your rag and gutter spoon, and begin clearing out any decomposed plant matter and gutter sludge. This can be time consuming but critical – as this sludge easily clogs downspouts. As you work, clean from the downspouts working out towards the closed ends. If you’re using a vacuum, replicate this same process, and use the vacuum to clear smaller sized debris. Once complete, acquire your hose, and spray the gutters out.
After you’ve removed the debris and cleared the gutter, it’s time to rinse. Get your hose, and spray water into the gutters – starting at the closed end furthest from the downspout. Obviously, we’re looking for water to freely flow out of the gutters – if you see it begin to pool, look for obstructions and check the downspouts again. Now it’s time for the big test. Spray hose water down the downspout and observe how much water comes out the bottom. If it’s approximately the same amount of water you’ve sprayed in, the piping is flowing freely. If less water seems to exit (or no water exits at all) there’s a blockage. If you do encounter a blockage, try these steps: Feed the hose up from the bottom of the downspout, and turn it on. Try and blast the blockage out from the bottom with water. Turn your pressure all the way up, and attempt to maneuver the hose around within the downspout. If this fails, you can attempt to use a stick or shaft – or plumber’s snake to dislodge the obstruction.
Slope and Configuration
Once you’ve completed cleaning your gutters, it’s time to check the slope. Simply put, the slope is the degree to which your gutters are slanted (ever-so-slightly) which allows water to run-off towards the down-spout. Gutters can’t be level – otherwise the water wouldn’t have a natural direction to flow and could pool. To test the slop of your gutters, simply spray water into the higher (closed) end away from the downspout. If everything looks good, the water will slowly pool and flow towards the downspout and exit the gutter. And if the downspout is clear, the water will exit and drain away. Plan to inspect every segment of gutter to ensure proper slope and flow. If gutters aren’t properly sloped, it’s a relatively easy fix: support hangers can help to correct slope issues or secure older gutters which may be starting to sag. Our business makes this step easy, and can help complete cleaning, maintenance, and inspection in one quick step. If you identify minor issues, head to your local hardware store for an easy fix. Generally, hangers, gutter sealant, and downspout guards can solve a lot of issues. Also ensure that your gutters aren’t draining into your foundation. Purchase a few splash guards (the 2x1 foot plastic trays that sit under your gutter downspouts) to move water away from your house and into the yard. These accessories are inexpensive, but can make all the difference in maintaining your property.
Depending on your property, locality, and the degree of blockage, this process can take a lot of time, and require tools you may not have. Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are more than happy to provide a quote, and finish the work for you so you can enjoy both your weekend, AND peace of mind.
Start by scooping out large debris from the gutter. Either dump it into another bucket, or throw it onto a tarp in the driveway/yard (this simplifies cleaning afterwards). Once major debris is cleared, secure your rag and gutter spoon, and begin clearing out any decomposed plant matter and gutter sludge. This can be time consuming but critical – as this sludge easily clogs downspouts. As you work, clean from the downspouts working out towards the closed ends. If you’re using a vacuum, replicate this same process, and use the vacuum to clear smaller sized debris. Once complete, acquire your hose, and spray the gutters out.
After you’ve removed the debris and cleared the gutter, it’s time to rinse. Get your hose, and spray water into the gutters – starting at the closed end furthest from the downspout. Obviously, we’re looking for water to freely flow out of the gutters – if you see it begin to pool, look for obstructions and check the downspouts again. Now it’s time for the big test. Spray hose water down the downspout and observe how much water comes out the bottom. If it’s approximately the same amount of water you’ve sprayed in, the piping is flowing freely. If less water seems to exit (or no water exits at all) there’s a blockage. If you do encounter a blockage, try these steps: Feed the hose up from the bottom of the downspout, and turn it on. Try and blast the blockage out from the bottom with water. Turn your pressure all the way up, and attempt to maneuver the hose around within the downspout. If this fails, you can attempt to use a stick or shaft – or plumber’s snake to dislodge the obstruction.
Slope and Configuration
Once you’ve completed cleaning your gutters, it’s time to check the slope. Simply put, the slope is the degree to which your gutters are slanted (ever-so-slightly) which allows water to run-off towards the down-spout. Gutters can’t be level – otherwise the water wouldn’t have a natural direction to flow and could pool. To test the slop of your gutters, simply spray water into the higher (closed) end away from the downspout. If everything looks good, the water will slowly pool and flow towards the downspout and exit the gutter. And if the downspout is clear, the water will exit and drain away. Plan to inspect every segment of gutter to ensure proper slope and flow. If gutters aren’t properly sloped, it’s a relatively easy fix: support hangers can help to correct slope issues or secure older gutters which may be starting to sag. Our business makes this step easy, and can help complete cleaning, maintenance, and inspection in one quick step. If you identify minor issues, head to your local hardware store for an easy fix. Generally, hangers, gutter sealant, and downspout guards can solve a lot of issues. Also ensure that your gutters aren’t draining into your foundation. Purchase a few splash guards (the 2x1 foot plastic trays that sit under your gutter downspouts) to move water away from your house and into the yard. These accessories are inexpensive, but can make all the difference in maintaining your property.
Depending on your property, locality, and the degree of blockage, this process can take a lot of time, and require tools you may not have. Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are more than happy to provide a quote, and finish the work for you so you can enjoy both your weekend, AND peace of mind.
