Keeping your gutters clean and
free of debris is important to ensure water stays away from
your house’s exterior and foundation walls. It’s recommended
to clear the gutters out twice a year – in the spring before
heavy rains begin and late in the fall after all the leaves
have fallen off the trees.
Essentially, proper maintenance of your home’s gutters
entails removing debris that can clog the system, looking
for rust, corrosion, and low spots that may be collecting
water.
To properly clean your gutters, follow these simple steps:
Remove debris. The most important task is to get rid of any
debris that may be clogging the gutters and downspouts.
Clogged gutters don’t allow moisture to move through the
system, which can cause rust, rot, and corrosion. To remove
debris, simply fasten a metal angle to the end of a long
pole or board and rake the material toward you. Then use a
wire brush to scrape anything that’s left over.
Using a hose, wash the gutters. Anything that’s left should
be washed out with a hose starting at the high end of each
run or in the middle of runs with spouts at both ends.
Get rid of any remaining blockage. Anything blocking the
gutters can be removed with water pressure or a plumber’s
snake. If this doesn’t work you’ll have to take apart the
downspouts to remove any blockage.
Scrape the gutter. If you discover rust inside of the
gutter, scrape it clean with a wire brush and apply a thin
coat of roofing cement.
Wood gutters: sand and seal. If your home has wood gutters,
they may require sanding down to the bare wood to remove any
problems. Then apply linseed oil, leave time for it to dry,
and apply 2 coats of roofing cement.
Again, standing water is what causes most problems with a
home’s gutters. Even if you follow proper maintenance
procedures, standing water can be an issue if the gutters
don’t slope properly toward their outlets. To check if your
gutters slope, pour water into the gutter and watch where
the water goes.
If something is wrong with your gutters and they do not
slope downward, you can eliminate sags by lifting the gutter
a little and repairing loose hangers, or bending the hanger
up with some pliers. You can also install another hanger if
need be. |
