How to clean rain gutters
When your rain gutters were first installed, which was probably when your house was built, you probably took one look at them and then forgot about them. Most people don't think about their rain gutters as a significant part of their homes. They have them installed and then they neither think about them or notice them. Although gutters might make for a nice detail aesthetically speaking, they don't exactly stand out. Perhaps this is because they work simply to prevent problems, and because we rarely experience the problems they prevent we are unaware of them. Rain gutters chanel large amounts of water away from the sides of your home. This is extremely important because the water would otherwise damage your home or basement. Indeed, without gutters there is a good chance that your basement would flood the next time it rains.
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Gutters often fill with debris-mostly leaves-creating stoppages that impair the gutter's performance. This can lead to a situation where the gutters either break free from the roof line, or one in which the water spills over the side of the gutter and runs down the side of the house or into the basement. In order to prevent these problems you need to regularly clean your rain gutters. Described below are some basic cleaning techniques that should keep your gutters clear.
This job can be somewhat dangerous because it involves ladders. If your house is more than one story you should have a professional come to clean your gutters. Otherwise use a sturdy latter (always have someone holding the base for you) and climb up to the gutter. Clean out any debris from the gutter and then blast the gutter clean with a high pressure hose fitting. The final step is to make sure that the drainage pipes that run from your roof to the ground are clear. You can do this by running hose water down them-if the water does not run freely through the pipes you know that you have an obstruction. Flush the obstruction out, either with a high pressure hose or with a long tube. Some people recommend using a plumber's snake to do this.
Make sure that all debris and mud have been freed from the gutters and drains when you are finished. It would probably be a good idea to repeat this process once a year, and especially if you have trees that cover your house. Be very cautious about climbing onto your roof to clean your gutters. Do not attempt to clean the gutters when it is cold or icy outside. If you feel that the situation is unsafe do not attempt to clean the gutters. Although having clean rain gutters is important, it is not such an important thing that you need to risk your life to do it.
With a little hard work you can quickly and accurately clean out your gutters. It will probably only take a day to do so, but the results should last for the rest of the year. After cleaning the gutters you will know that you have done something to protect your home and belongings.
One good way to tell if your gutters are having any problems is to observe them when it is raining. Watch to see if there are any spots where water seems to be sloshing over the sides of the gutter. Does water run freely from the roof down the drain pipe? If you start to get water leaking into your basement consider the gutter as possible culprit.
