EASY DIY GUTTER CLEANUP & MAINTENANCE TIPS
Gutters smelling iffy? Foul odor coming from the general area? First, don’t panic! If you discover overflowing gutters, there are a few things you can do to halt the issue before it poses a bigger threat to your home. So just how do you nip a gutter-related problem in the bud before it becomes an even bigger issue? Learn to master it yourself with our DIY Gutter Cleanup & Maintenance Guide.
Remove Leaves, Moss and Debris – Significantly reducing the flow of water that might spill over the edge of the gutter, a quick and simple removal of leaves and other debris could be the answer to no more problems in the future. Mud and leaves can often get caught in the down pipe, so why not consider installing a gutter guard as a convenient preventative measure.
Grab a Bucket of Water – If you’re looking for some peace of mind that your gutter’s doing its job properly, simply pour a bucket of water into it and wait to see what happens. Is the water flowing towards the rainwater drainpipe? If so, don’t panic; all is working as it should be!
If, however, the water’s flowing away from the pipe, it might be time to refit the gutter to make sure it flows in the right direction. Trust us, a tricky job which you could do without – but nothing that a little maintenance won’t be able to prevent.
A higher capacity gutter might also be the answer, so do keep an eye on the situation and upgrade to a larger one if you suspect your gutter might be too small for your requirements.
How to Clean Your Downspout
So you’ve identified a problem with your gutter and now it’s time to clean out your downspout. Here’s what to do…
What you’ll need:
- Protective gloves
- Extension ladder
- Narrow garden trowel or spade
- Rubbish bags
- Garden hose with sprayer attachment
- Bucket
- S-hook
- Plumber’s snake
And here’s what to do:
It’s time to clean your gutters and downspouts, but where to start?! DIY gutter cleanup is simple and easy, just about anyone can do it.
- Dig out and dust off your tools and select your starting point; the corners of your home are a good place to begin as downspouts are generally located here
- Start near the downspout and work away from it. By doing this, you’ll avoid pushing any additional debris further into it
- Now, place your extension ladder in a safe and level place. Check this guide by Laddestore for the do’s and don’ts of ladder safety when clearing gutters before grabbing your bucket and s-hook
- Attach them to the ladder and have a rubbish bag close by to discard any debris. Make sure you have your gloves on, as it’s likely you’ll be handling sharp objects
- Start by removing large debris at the part of the gutter closest to the downspout. You can do this with your spade or trowel, placing debris into the bucket or rubbish bag as you go
- It’s now time to rinse the gutter. Do this in the direction of the downspout, using the attachment on the hose. Now, simply spray until all the debris has gone
- Can you see any clogs? It’s time to clear them; use the spray attachment on the hose to direct water into the downspout from the bottom end, or knock any clogs loose by directing the water to the upper end. Not working? Try the plumber’s snake in the downspout, as this should loosen any debris
- Once you’ve found any damage, repair it. Inspect the gutters – looking for holes, cracks or dents – and sort them out as soon as possible, placing any debris into your rubbish bag
- Finally, it’s time to install some gutter guards. Helping to deflect the leaves and other debris from the gutter, guards like this can be purchased easily and cheaply.
Should you have need of replacement of gutters, please keep us in mind! For a free estimate, contact us at 630-541-5913 or submitting a contact us form.
