The gutters and downspouts on your house are essential for protecting your home from water damage. Damaged gutters can become a big problem and so can blocked gutters. Keeping your gutters clean and free of debris helps keep them working well and protecting your home. Here are some simple gutter cleaning tips to make things easier:

1. Follow a Regular Cleaning Schedule

There are many damages clean gutters help you avoid. One of the best ways to make sure your gutters stay clean is to get on a regular and consistent cleaning schedule for them.

Depending on what plants and trees are around your property, you may need to clean your gutters every month, quarterly, or only periodically as the seasons change. Figure out what cleaning schedule keeps your gutters clear and directing water away from your home, and then stick to it.

Neglecting to clean your gutters regularly can result in clogs and damage to them. This can also encourage mold growth in your home and result in water damage to your home.

2. Invest in the Right Tools

The best way to clean gutters is to invest in the right tools for the job and to make sure you’re being safe. If you have a decent garden hose and aren’t dealing with a serious clog, you can just spray your gutters clean using a hose with a sprayer.

If you skipped a couple of cleanings or are dealing with bigger blockages, you can use a pressure washer, a shop vac, or a leaf blower with a gutter kit to clear it out and clean it up.

3. Have Someone Help You

Clearing out your gutters and cleaning up can be a big job to tackle on your own, especially as you climb up and down ladders. This makes having someone help you one of the gutter cleaning tips to make things easier, even if all they do is help support you and stabilize the ladder.

4. Trim or Cut Down Trees Near the Roofline

Leaves, pine needles, and more are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to blocking gutters. Also, trees and branches too close to your home can pose a danger to your gutters and your roof, especially during storms.

One of the ways to cut down on loose leaves clogging up your gutters and downspouts is to trim any trees near your roofline or cut them down or relocate them if they are too close to your home.

5. Regularly Inspect Gutters Year-Round

While cleaning your gutters, it’s a good idea to also inspect your gutters for wear and tear and any signs you should replace your gutters. Check for cracks and breaks. Also, look for signs of water damage under your gutters, including peeling paint.

Depending on how often you need to clean your gutters, you may need to plan to inspect your gutters in between cleaning to make sure they are still protecting your home. Your gutters and downspouts are important, so you want to make sure they are in good shape by checking them regularly year-round and also after particularly heavy storms.

6. Invest in Gutter Guards or Covers

One of the gutter cleaning tips to make things easier is to invest in gutter guards or covers. There are many benefits of gutter guards. Some of the biggest benefits are that, with this extra protection, you can help extend the life of your gutters, help prevent blockages, and also reduce the amount of maintenance and cleaning you need to do.

These are just a few simple gutter cleaning tips to make things easier and help protect your home from water damage. If you’re tired of cleaning out your gutters or need to replace them anyway, consider upgrading to gutter guards to keep your gutters free of debris and practically maintenance-free! Contact Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708 to start your free quote!