If you’re a property owner, autumn can be very tiring as it is that time of the year when maintenance efforts and repairs must be carried out. Due to the fall of the leaves, dry twigs and branches, gutters and downspouts instantly get clogged and you need to make sure that before the winter rains start, you would have to clean these important features to prevent damages that can set your finances back by thousands of dollars.
Gutters are designed to provide rainwater an easy and unobstructed path off your roof. However, during the fall, they can become so clogged up with leaves, twigs, branches and other debris. If not addressed properly, when rains come, the water finds other channels to flow through and you can experience leaks through your ceiling and walls. Also, when the water does not flow properly, it can stagnate, creating “juices” (rich in acids) from plant matter, and corrode gutter material.
Autumn blocked guttersare easy enough to clean, though, if you’re willing to get the right tools and get up into dangerous palces. You would also need to learn the basics and set aside time to get the job done as soon as you can.
Safety first. Gather all the equipment necessary for the job and if you have a safety harness, use that — should you slip, you still have something holding you securely to the house. Important equipment you will need are a sturdy ladder, a trowel, a leaf blower (if you have one), anti-slip shoes, work gloves, protective goggles, dust mask and a garden hose.
Once you have all that you need, you may “officially” begin; rest the ladder against the wall of your house where you want to get started. Always have someone else hold the ladder, especially on your ascent and descent. You can either get on the roof or work from the ladder. With your leaf blower, blow out all the dry leaves, twigs and branches off the roof and gutter. After that, target the dirt and other debris stuck to the gutter and scoop them out using the trowel. Now, if the dirt in the gutter has already hardened and is proving to be a challenge to scoop out, wet it using the garden hose before using the trowel to remove it.
When you’re done with the gutters, tackle the downspouts and make sure that water flows freely from them. If there is a build-up of leaves and debris which prevents water from running down, use a plumber’s snake to get rid of the blockage. Pour water down the spout again to see if you’ve completely gotten rid of the blockage. Repeat the process if necessary
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