How to Clean Gutters

Expert illustrated advice and video on how to clean rain gutters, including DIY roof gutter cleaning techniques and how to hire a gutter cleaning service.

Gutters are an integral part of a home’s drainage system. During a rainstorm, roof gutters route runoff from a very large surface—a home’s roof—to where it can drain away from the house. By doing so, they protect siding, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements.

To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris. When gutters clog, drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters. Clogged gutters overflow and eventually pull loose. Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet-metal ones.

Plan to clean the gutter system every spring and fall—more often if your roof is directly beneath trees. The best time to clean gutters is after fall winds have blown leaves from the trees but before rain has made the leaves a soggy mess inside gutters.

NOTE: Gutter guards and leaf-catchers can be helpful for minimizing the need for cleaning gutters. However, debris eventually settles through the guards, and then they must be removed for gutter cleaning. Before buying a leaf-catching system, be sure it can be easily removed for cleaning.

Source: hometips