Rain Gutter Maintenance – When and How

Properly maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is one of the most ignored maintenance works for home owners. Most homeowners won’t even know there’s a problem unless there’s water leaking everywhere. At that point, it is already too late as fixing the gutter system when it’s overflowing is an almost impossible task. To avoid rain gutters from clogging, cleaning it twice a year is necessary. Cleaning the rain gutters before the spring is probably the most important gutter maintenance all year. Seeds will float and make their way down the pipes where it can easily get clogged. Gutter cleaning before spring starts is essential to keeping your gutters healthy and functional.

Here’s how you clean your gutters:

• First off, you need to practice safety. Make sure that you have a safety first aid kit with you. Make sure all the materials you’re using are safe, especially the ladder.

• Prepare all the materials you are going to use. For ladders, standoff stabilizers or ladder horns are ideal to avoid damaging the gutter.

• Once you’re up on your gutter system, remove the dirt and debris by using gutter scoop or any scoop that fits inside the gutter.

• If you have a lawn (which most you have), you can lay out a plastic tarp and put the gunk in there.

• Once you’re confident that the gutters are clean, flush the gutters and downspouts with running water. This will flush tiny debris and dirt down the downpipes. It is also a great way to spot any leaks if it has any.

It’s as easy as that. All you need to have are simple tools along with some safety precautions and you can do the job yourself. However, if you are too busy with your work, you can hire someone to do the job for you. There are a lot of companies that would love to clean your gutters. Usually, the pay is $50 – $250 depending on the size and length of the rain gutters.

If you want to minimize maintenance of your gutters, you can install gutter covers. Gutter covers can slow down clogging by preventing dirt and debris from entering the actual gutter. However, the cost can be an issue for many homeowners, seeing as they cost $6 – $8 per foot. Routine maintenance is still needed to keep them clear.

The takeaway

Overall, keeping your gutters clean all year long needs to be included in your maintenance routine. Just like many parts of the house, if you ignore your gutters, they would function sub-optimally and will cost a fortune in repairs down the line. Do not make the mistake of neglecting your gutters. A simple maintenance routine can go a long way in keeping your gutters functioning properly and optimally.

Being an homeowner with elaborate gutter system, I find that the best way to keep your gutters clean is to do seasonal maintenance. If you can’t do the maintenance yourself, make sure to hire someone that does. A good gutter repair company is your best bet to keeping your gutter clean and functional all year round.

Gutter cleaning