How to clean your home's roof gutters efficiently?

Gutters do more than just protect your home's exterior from water damage. They also protect your roof and foundation from the effects of moisture. Without gutters, rainwater would constantly fall just a few feet away from your home's foundation, saturating the ground around it. Over time, this can cause significant damage to your foundation, and there's no easy way to repair it once that happens.

Sometimes a clogged gutter can be fixed without cleaning the entire system. If your gutters are still relatively new, you may be able to get away with just removing the debris causing the blockage. If they're older or in poor condition, it's probably a good idea to clean the whole thing out and replace them.

However, gutter cleaning is an essential part of roof maintenance, and thus, it's advisable to clean your roof gutters at least once per year to prevent water from backing up and damaging your house or basement foundation.

Why do you need to clean your gutters?

Keeping your gutters clean is a critical part of maintaining your home. The importance of this task goes beyond appearance, as clogged gutters can cause major water damage to your roof and fascia (the board behind the gutter).

There are two reasons why you should clean them.

The first is to avoid damage caused by water backing up into your roof or walls. The second is to keep them from turning into a home for pests such as termites and mosquitoes. Gutters that hold standing water are an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.

Gutters that don't drain properly can cause water to back up and flow over the edge of the gutter. This can cause water damage to your roof, fascia board and soffit (the underside of your roof overhang), siding and windows.

What are the signs that your gutters need to be cleaned?

Clogged gutters cause a lot of problems for homeowners. Some evident signs that indicate your gutters need cleaning are:

• Leaves and other debris accumulate inside your gutters.
• Pooling water on the ground around your home or in your basement.
• Pooling water directly over the edge of your gutter on the roof.
• Water drips over the side of your gutter when it rains.
• Gutters pulling away from the house, usually near joints.

Gutter cleaning tips to avoid problems

Gutter cleaning is one of the most important things you can do to prevent problems from occurring. Let's delve into why it's so important and how to clean roof gutters.

Get the right tool for the job

If you don't want to invest in a special gutter-cleaning tool, this can be done with a garden trowel or even an old kitchen spoon. A leaf blower can also come in handy to blast away wet debris and clear clogs in downspouts.

Work from a ladder

Prioritise safety before starting work on gutter cleaning because it's dangerous to work from a ladder that isn't stable or long enough for the job at hand. You'll want a stable ladder that extends at least 3 feet above the roofline so that you can lean comfortably against it as you work. Also, make sure your ladder has rubber feet to prevent slipping on smooth surfaces like tile or concrete, which can be especially hazardous during or after rainstorms.

Don't forget to remove all debris from the downspout elbows

If these elbows are left unclean, they will obstruct water flow through them, causing water back-up along your roofline or even inside your home.

Do not direct the water stream directly at the seams between gutter joints

This can wash away the gutter sealant and cause leaks. Also, avoid directing the water stream at downspout openings as this can cause clogging.

Ensure appropriate garden hose to clean your home gutters

Consider getting a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle and a lever system to make adjustments in water pressure. This type of nozzle allows you to adjust the pressure using just your thumb by pulling or pushing on it.

A regular garden hose with just one setting is less convenient as it requires you to stop and adjust it every time you want to change the water pressure.

Use long-handled tools for hard-to-reach areas

Gutter extensions are used for cleaning gutters above your head to prevent you from climbing up a ladder and risking accidents. It also protects your back from getting injuries caused by extreme bending over to reach downspouts and other hard-to-reach areas of the gutter system.

Wear non-slip shoes

Non-slip shoes are essential for safety because they are easy to slip or trip when on a ladder. Make sure that you wear a pair before climbing up the ladder. The shoes should also have firm grips to avoid slipping on a wet roof or wet gutter.

Wear protective eyewear

Safety glasses qualify as one of the important safety gears for gutter cleaning. This is because many things can fall or come loose from the roof as you clean the gutters. You do not want to have a screw, nail, or other object hitting your eye while cleaning the gutters. If a piece of debris hits your eyes, it could cause permanent damage and even blindness.

Wear gloves

When cleaning the gutters, you will come into contact with dirt, mould, and other irritants. Wearing gloves helps protect your hands from dangers. You may also want to use heavy-duty rubber gloves for better protection against sharp objects like nails or screws that might be hidden in the debris.

Hiring professionals for gutter cleaning

Gutter cleaning can be a dangerous and labour-intensive task. Not only does it require climbing ladders, handling power tools and dealing with dirt and debris, but it can also increase the risk of falls and injuries. Professional gutter cleaners often have the best equipment, training and expertise to get this job done correctly.

If you are not comfortable cleaning your own rain gutters or don't want to worry about property damage or injury, the best way to clean gutters is by hiring a professional. A gutter cleaning service can do all the work for you safely and effectively.

Why choose Melbourne Quality Roofing for your next gutter cleaning project?

We are Melbourne’s roofing contractor with a strong reputation for quality roof repairs, roof restorations and gutter cleaning and maintenance services.

We can work with your budget and provide you with a free estimate of the cost so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want to hire us to do your gutter cleaning.

Our services are tailored to meet your needs. Our team at Melbourne Quality Roofing are fully licensed and insured, so you can be confident that your property is in safe hands.

Need a Gutter Cleaning in Melbourne? Call us on 0466 885 133