DIY Gutter Cleaning: Tips for Homeowners

Gutter cleaning isn't necessarily a difficult task; it's just tedious, can be disgusting, and sometimes dangerous. If you have the time and do not have issues being on ladders/roofs, you can do it too! Read below for tips to do it easy and well.

These tips are for the everyday homeowner, we keep it as simple as possible. We will also detail how we perform this task to give a good comparison. If you do decide to hire us, you will see great value for money.

Tip 1 - Safety

If you are not comfortable on ladders or walking on roofs, don't do it. Around 500,000 people fall off ladders each year and suffer injuries with approximately 300 people actually dying from the fall. It can't be overstated, it is dangerous business.

We use proper safety gear and are fully insured against the worst happening. Experience makes this task much easier solely knowing what to do and what not to do.

To use a ladder safely, make sure you are set up on a stable platform. This is key. Max angle to avoid ladder slips is 15 degrees off vertical. Anything beyond that and you risk the ladder slipping out from underneath you. If you can tie off the ladder to a solid platform, all the better. Also, consider using a ladder stabilizer which widens the ladder's top contact point and keeps the ladder away from gutters, windows, or fragile areas of your home.

Be sure to maintain 3 points of contact on the ladder at all times. This ensures that your weight is evenly distributed and reduces the chance of slipping or losing your balance. Solid work boots (no flip flops!) and the right mindset going into it will make all the difference.

Tip 2 - Proper Tools

The "easy" way to clean your gutters is to wait until they are dry and then blow them out with a leaf blower. Two points on that; one) don't do it wet or you risk blowing gutter mud over the siding of your house and two) remember that you will have to clean everything you blow out off the ground.

Here we detail how we do it, which you can certainly do it this way yourself...it's just more time consuming. There are two approaches depending on the tools you have at hand. For the first method, we place tarps on the ground to catch any excess and keep the grounds clean. This involves the good ole' gutter scoop, kind of like a trowel but thinner, and a small bucket. When the small bucket is full, we transfer the contents to a larger bucket and then place in leaf bags to be picked up by the city. You as the homeowner can just throw it in the trash to be picked up.

The second method is easier, we vacuum out on the contents with a wet/dry vacuum. The limiting factors here are the proper extensions to get in all the nooks and crannies and a long enough hose to reach from the ground. If you have this kind of setup, it is obviously preferred. No mess!

"Try not to overstretch when clearing debris...it is much safer to climb down and move your ladder." – Jess Thomas, Managing Director at Drainage Central

Tip 3 - Clean Gutters at least once a year

Regular cleanings are better, however. It makes the next time easier on you and prevents buildup that can cause your gutters to fail. Failed gutters cause leaks in your house and can be VERY expensive to fix. Ask me how I know! This is one reason I started this business, to prevent my stupid errors as a homeowner from affecting my friends and neighbors.

Tip 4 - Inspect for Drainage Problems

When you have finished cleaning the gutters, flush the gutters with a hose to check for:

• Proper water flow

• Leaks at seams or joints

• Sagging gutter sections or standing water (means the pitch is off and the water is not draining correctly)

• Clogged downspouts

When we have finished, we do the above and make minor repairs as needed.

Tip 5 - Consider Gutter Guards

Gutter guards are not a miracle worker but, they do make next time much easier! Gutter guards will keep the bulk of debris out of your gutters and reduces your cleaning frequency. They will not eliminate all debris, think shingle granules, dirt, and small pieces of twigs/leaves. Even with gutter guards, be sure to inspect you gutters yearly.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are reasons to do it yourself and there are reasons to hire a pro. If your time is worth more than the time it takes to clean gutters, you should definitely hire outside help. As someone who has always done most home repair tasks himself, I get the appeal of DIY. If you have any questions about personal safety, don't go it alone. Sometimes it's just easier to hire someone.

Hogan's Pro Services is available when you need us. Just call Mike Hogan at 469-383-8945 and we will get you taken care of, on time and exceptionally well...guaranteed.