The best time to clean your gutters is in the fall when the leaves are falling, and the spring to remove any debris that may have collected over winter. That said, it’s a good idea to inspect them throughout the year to check for debris and potential damage, especially after a strong storm. After a few years of living in your house, you’ll have a good idea of how often your gutters need to be cleaned.
Ways To Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters doesn’t have to be difficult. Various yard equipment can be used to help clean your gutters.
If you have a leaf blower, you can buy a narrow nozzle attachment designed to clean gutters. Work your way slowly towards the downspout. When you’re finished, you might have to go through and remove stubborn debris by hand. You can also use a hose to remove any leftover leaves. Be careful that the leaves you’re blowing out don’t go into the downspout.
Another efficient way to get your gutters clean is to use a pressure washer. Be careful though, because this method can get messy. Simply blast the water into the gutters until all the debris is removed. The best part about this method is that a pressure washer is a great tool to clear out a clogged downspout. However, after you’re done with the pressure washer, you’ll probably have to hose off the roof and sides of your house.
A wet/dry vacuum can also be used for cleaning your gutters. Just like the leaf blower method, work your way towards the downspout while sucking up leaves and debris. The biggest downside to using a wet/dry vacuum is that some debris might be too big for the hose or your vacuum might need to be emptied during the job.
Check Your Downspouts
Gutters are useless without a clear downspout. Check your downspouts for any clogs or partial blockages. You can use a hose to run water down the spout to check that water is running freely. If there is an obstruction, use the pressure washer to remove it.
Finally, use downspout extensions to direct water further away from your house. Extensions come in many different sizes and are flexible so you can move them around as needed. If you do use an extension, check it periodically to make sure it stays connected to the downspout.
Clean Your Gutters to Be a Good Homeowner
While it’s not the most fun chore to do, cleaning your gutters is a very important one to avoid water damage and flooding. This is a chore that needs to be done at least twice a year, depending on where you live, the climate, and the number of trees around your house.
MN Pro Home Inspections provides inspection services to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Contact us to schedule an inspection.