Gutters keep your roof in healthy condition by preventing water from accumulating and causing leaks or mold, mildew, and algae growth. The Atlanta area is filled with scenic trees that can cause branches, leaves and debris to accumulate in the gutters, creating clogs. Regular inspections and maintenance will keep your roof in top shape for winter and the rainy season.
8 Tips for Safely Cleaning Your Gutters
Cleaning the gutters is risky and requires safety steps and extreme caution. Follow these gutter cleaning safety precautions:
- Stop working if you start feeling tired or unbalanced.
- Do not attempt to clean them during inclement weather or at night.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to help you to reduce the risk and make the job easier.
Contacting an experienced professional who is familiar with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines is the safest way to clean your gutters, but these eight tips can help you stay safe performing general upkeep in the meantime:
1. Wear Protective Equipment
The following safety equipment that you’ll require to clean the gutters from the ground is:
- Nonslip boots: You’ll use a lot of water while cleaning the gutters. Wear nonslip boots that will allow you to stand on the ladder and wet ground without falling.
- Safety glasses: Safety glasses protect your eyes from debris that can cause eye injury and put you at risk of falling.
- Work gloves: Wear working gloves to protect your hands from dirt, mold, bacteria, animal droppings and insects. Gloves also prevent cuts from torn metal, tools or ragged gutters.
2. Gather Your Cleaning Tools
The second safety tip for gutter cleaning is to have the correct tools and materials to perform the job. Here is a short list of the tools you need:
- Leaf blower: A leaf blower will help you clear leaves, branches and debris faster.
- Buckets: You’ll need two buckets, one for collecting debris and the other to keep your tools in while you work.
- Garden hose with a spray nozzle: The spray nozzle on your garden hose lets you control the pressure while cleaning debris and clogs from gutters.
- Plastic gutter scoop: A plastic gutter scoop is the perfect shape to clean gutters down to the smallest particle of debris. Avoid using a metal one, as it could damage the gutters.
- Towel or drop cloth: Placing a towel or drop cloth below the section you are working on will catch debris falling from the roof.
- Plumber’s snake: A plumber snake is a great tool to get rid of big clogs stuck in the gutters.
- Gutter brush: Use a gutter brush to remove any stubborn debris left.
- Secure ladder: The most essential tool is a safe and sturdy ladder that is in excellent condition.
3. Practice Ladder Safety
Follow these safety practices while using your ladder:
- Choose the correct ladder: Choose a sturdy, four-legged ladder without loose or missing parts.
- Stabilize the legs: Set your ladder at a 75-degree angle to minimize the chance of injuries. Use a ladder stabilizer to keep it in place and have a friend or neighbor hold the ladder for added security.
- Follow the rule of three: Always keep at least three points of contact with your ladder — two feet and one hand.
- Keep within reach: Do not extend beyond your reach, and move the ladder if you need to.
4. Inspect the Gutter and Roof Condition
Now that you have your protective equipment on and have gathered all your tools and materials to start working, the first step is to inspect your surroundings. Note the location of any electrical cables or wiring, and check the gutters and surrounding area for any leaks, cracks, holes or rust. You should also look out for loose shingles, downspouts and sagging gutters.
Before cleaning, have a professional make any necessary gutter repairs to avoid worsening the issue.
5. Clean Debris From Gutters
Start cleaning the gutters from the corners and downspouts where most debris accumulates. Wearing your gloves, remove the excess leaves, branches and debris with your hands or use your plastic gutter scoop to help you. Use your extra bucket to collect all debris. Keep your hand free to hold on to the ladder while working.
6. Check the Downspouts
After you’ve removed all branches, leaves and debris, use your water hose to check the downspouts for clogs. Turn it on and spray it down the downspout, then watch to see how much water comes out. If it is less than the amount going in, there’s a clog in the gutters.
7. Remove Clogs
Carefully put the nozzle of your water hose inside the downspout and keep moving until you feel the clog. Turn on the water and try to remove the clog with water pressure. Be careful not to keep water under the roof shingles to prevent leaks or damage to your roof.
If you can’t remove the clog using water pressure, use the plumber’s snake. If none of these options work, it is time to call a professional to clean the gutters.
8. Finalize the Cleaning
After removing all branches, leaves, debris and clogs, flush out the gutters with water one last time. Inspect the gutters for leaks or open joints. Seal them with gutter sealant following the product instructions and touch them up with paint if needed.
Consider investing in high-quality gutter guards to help keep leaves, branches and debris out of your gutters, making your next cleaning job faster and easier.
Keep Your Gutters Clean With Regular Maintenance Service
Regular maintenance is the most effective way to keep your gutters clean. Cleaning your gutters in spring will prepare your roof for summer rains and cleaning them in the fall will prepare it for winter. Schedule professional gutter maintenance service twice a year and as needed if you spot outdoor or indoor leaks, watermarks or damage.
Trust the Professionals at A Better Gutter Cleaning
The safest and most effective way to clean your gutters is to call a professional. A Better Gutter Cleaning has served Atlanta Area families for more than two decades. We understand the local weather and are experts in cleaning and repairing gutters.
Our technicians arrive with fully stocked trucks to repair or replace any parts in your gutters and will implement safety methods like harnesses and ropes while we work on your home.
Cleaning the gutters has never been easier. All you have to do is schedule a visit online. After we finish the job, you’ll receive a picture of your cleaned gutters along with your invoice. Contact us today and get a free quote!
