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Cleaning Out Clogged Rain Gutters

rain gutter
A good fall cleaning is just as important as your annual spring cleaning. During the fall season, leaves can easily back up the gutters on your roof. These clogged rain gutters can have a lot of different effects on your home so it’s important to clean out your gutters at least one time every year.

The Risks of Clogged Rain Gutters

  1. Falling. Leaves clogging rain gutters can cause a buildup of water that can freeze. When the gutters freeze, they can begin pulling away from your roof and fall.
  2. Staining. When rain gutters get backed up, water may fall over the edges of the gutter onto your home’s exterior which can cause water stains.
  3. Rotting. A lot of water means a lot of wood rot and mold. Help keep mold away by keeping your gutters free of debris!
  4. Flooding and Cracking. Similarly to staining your home, water will spill over the edges of the backed up gutters. Excess amounts of water can seep into your foundation and cause it to crack. Another possibility is water flooding into your basement when there are large amounts of water coming from the gutters.

Keeping your Gutters Free of Debris

It’s important to keep both you and your home in tact, so be careful while cleaning the clogged rain gutters! Remember to wear sturdy shoes and take caution when climbing ladders.

  • Grab some safety gear! Wear safety goggles and gloves while cleaning. This will help keep debris out of your eyes and keep your skin safe from sharp objects.
  • Set up a tarp underneath the general cleaning area. This way, you can dump the leaves onto the tarp and drag it along with you instead of using a lot of big trash bags full of leaves and debris.
  • Use the right tools. A plastic spatula, a trowel, or even a plastic toy shovel work great when it  comes to removing the debris from the gutters.
  • Use a hose to spray out any remaining dirt and debris. Also, using a hose on the gutters will show whether your gutters are draining water properly.

If you don’t want to clean your gutters using this method, there are a variety of tools such as leaf blowers that can make this job easier.

While it’s a good idea to clean your gutters at least one time per year, it’s best to do it during the fall when your gutters are at the highest risk of being backed up. The ideal day to clear out a clogged gutter is after a light rain because the damp debris and leaves will stick together.