The fall season in Philadelphia is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The picturesque tree-lined streets of reds, yellows, and oranges make for a postcard-worthy sight. But now, as we are getting into winter, all of these leaves have to go somewhere. More than likely, your home’s gutters may be the final resting place for all of the fallen leaves.
Gutters are crucial in directing the flow of rainwater off roofs. These protect the interior and exterior of your home as well as the landscaping surrounding the house. A gutter clogged with leaves or other debris can damage the roof, walls, and foundation of your home. This excess pooling of water can also cause mold and pest infestations.
This can be a dangerous job without access to a ladder or at homes with high roofs and uneven ground, so it would be best to have a contractor come out to handle it. At Philly’s Phinest Roofing, we will give you a free estimate for our reliable and efficient work.
Having roofing experts clean out your gutters also allows them to inspect them for leaks or damage. Over the years, hangers get damaged, and gutters start to leak, so it is important to keep up with them before other parts of your home are affected.
How to Clean a Clogged Gutter Yourself?
If you decide to pursue this project personally, these are some tips to clean out gutters and downspouts safely.
What You’ll Need:
- Ladder
- Plywood (if the ladder is on a soft surface)
- Tarp or drop cloth
- Trash bags
- Gloves
- Gardening spade
- Plumbing snake
- Hose
A sturdy ladder is needed to get to your gutters and must be on a solid foundation. Lay a piece of plywood down on soft soil for a better foundation and always lean the top of the ladder onto the house and not the gutters. It is always recommended to have someone footing the ladder while using the ladder as well.
Once up to the gutter level, the easiest way to clean out the debris is to have work gloves on and use your hands or a gardening spade to scoop out the debris from the gutters and drop them onto a tarp or drop cloth on the ground. Every time you move the ladder to different spots, you would have to slide the tarp along the ladder.
A plumber snake is the most useful tool to clean the downspouts to clear out any debris clogged. After it is cleared, spray a hose down the downspout to ensure all of the debris is out.
After the gutters are cleared, the tarp can be wrapped up and dumped into a leaf pile to be burned (if allowed in your municipality) or put into trash bags or onto the street where street cleaners suck them up.
Conclusion
Spring and fall are when debris starts to build up in gutters and downspouts. It is vital to keep gutters clean to allow rainwater to flow how it is supposed to. Without properly functioning gutters, water can do tons of damage to the interior and exterior of a home. If you will take on this task yourself, remember these tips to clear your gutters and downspouts safely.
This can be a dangerous job for a homeowner to take on, so it is important to remember that Philly’s Phinest roofing has your back with quality roofing services in the Great Philadelphia Area. The last thing we would like to see is perfectly in shape roofs become damaged from a clogged gutter.
