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A must have if
hiring a contractor!
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Gutter Cleaning
Tips on How to Clean Gutters
By Mark
J. Donovan
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If your home has gutters, gutter
cleaning is unfortunately a necessity. If gutters are left to collect leaves and
other debris, they will no longer function, begin to sag and eventually cause
damage to your home. In particular the fascia boards and soffit areas will begin
to experience mold, mildew and even rot.
Gutter cleaning is best performed on
dry days as it is easier and less messy to remove the leaves and debris. |
Gutter cleaning begins with a few
basic tools: a ladder, garden trowel, work gloves, and a garden hose.
With the ladder placed on firm ground
and starting near the gutter downspout, remove the leaves and debris from the
gutter using a garden trowel. While frequently moving the ladder, work your way
up the length of the gutter removing all the debris. Note that you may want to
collect the leaves and debris in a bucket or plastic container as this material
is great for a garden.
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In the process of
cleaning the gutters inspect the brackets that hold the gutters onto the fascia
boards to make sure they are still securely fastened. Also check the gutter
seams to make sure they do not show signs of leaking and are not split or
damaged in anyway. If they are damaged either fix or patch the cracks/seams.
After removing all
of the leaves and debris from the gutters, rinse the gutters with a water hose.
If the water does not flow smoothly out the gutter downspouts, you may have
debris lodged in them.
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In many cases just
directing the hose head right over the gutter downspout intake will eliminate the clog.
If this does not work use a snake to eliminate the clog.
Find a Pre-Screened Gutter Contractor in Your Area
To eliminate, or at least reduce the
frequency of regular gutter cleaning, there are a number of gutter guard
products on the market today. These products are designed so that only roof rain
water enters the gutter. Leaves and other debris, slide over the top of the
gutter and onto the ground, thus preventing the gutter from becoming clogged.
Related Topics on Gutters
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