When to clean your rain gutters
Rain gutters divert water away from the areas on the sides of your home to areas that are further out in the yard. By diverting this run-off, you avoid flooding spots in your yard and eroding the ground by the foundation of your home. The important of your rain gutters is often overlooked. We understand the function of the gutters, but many of us fail to realize that we need to maintain our rain gutters if they are to remain working as effectively as possible. There are several different problems that may become issues with how well your rain gutters are doing their jobs. Some issues are less common. Poor installation and the rusting of metal gutters are two examples of gutter maintenance problems that occur. The most common issues that arise with rain gutters are failure to clean the gutters and rain gutter settling.
|
|
Some experts suggest that fall is the perfect time to clean your gutters. Fall is the time of the year when you should really consider getting your gutters cleaned. As the leaves start falling, you cannot only see the accumulation of these leaves in your gutter, but also the accumulation of twigs, and even dead birds and rodents. This debris clogs the draining, and the water begins to pile up. Routine rain gutter cleaning can ensure that your water is always free flowing through your rain gutters and downspouts. The weight of debris and rainwater can cause the gutters to sag and pull away from the house. Once the gutters are cleaned out, you can inspect them for damage and make the necessary (and hopefully minor) repairs. The cost to repair this damage is significantly more than the cost to get your gutters cleaned. Some individuals prefer to do their gutter cleaning in the spring once the weather had improved. Annual or bi-annual cleanings may not be enough in order to keep your gutters in good working order. It is time to clean some gutters when they show signs of damage or settling. Clogged gutters do not drain as they were designed. Gutters are attached at a very slight slant so that the rainwater will drain one direction or another. If this slope is evened out because there is debris upsetting the water flow, water will sit in your guttering, pile up, and then pull your rain gutters down.
If you are putting off the cleaning of your rain gutters because you are unsure as what the proper safety precautions are, here are a few suggestions:
- Use the right kind of ladder - If you have a low roof, you can clean your gutters from a stepladder. If your roof has a gentle slope, you may be able to climb on the roof to clean the gutters. Wear good shoes that give you grip and watch that you do not step on any debris or loose roof tiles, lest you slip and fall. Do not try to work by standing on a roof with a steep pitch. Use an extension ladder if you are uncomfortable climbing on the roof or if your rooftop is very high.
- Position the ladder properly - Be careful of power lines when maneuvering the ladder into position. Make sure that the base of the ladder is stable. The angle of the ladder should be one-fourth the ladder length in distance away from the house. Leaning a ladder directly against the gutters can bend or damage them. Use a bracket designed for use while cleaning gutters or use a board that will steady you against the roof.
