Did you know that gutters collect between 40 and 250 pounds of debris every year?

It’s true! Gutter buildup causes all kinds of damaging (and costly) issues, including foundation erosion, mosquito infestations, roof damage, and floods. For this reason, routine gutter cleaning is an essential part of home maintenance.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Ladder – Be Safe, Always Use a Spotter!
• Outdoor Gloves
• Five-Gallon Bucket
• Garden Hose
• Screwdriver*
• Screws*
• Painter’s Tape & Clear Silicone Sealant*
• Plumber’s Snake*

How to Clean Your Gutter in 5 Steps

In less than an hour, you’ll have the cleanest gutters on the block! Follow these simple gutter cleaning steps to keep your home protected against water damage and intrusion.

Step 1: Climb your ladder so that you’re at eye level with your gutters. With your protective gloves on, begin fishing all debris from your gutters – grab every leaf and twig that you possibly can! Move section by section, placing all debris into your five-gallon bucket.

Step 2: After all debris has been removed, check your gutters for signs of corrosion, holes, and dents. If small holes are present, cover them with a piece of painter’s tape so that you can easily locate them when it’s time to repair. Don’t put the repair process off for long – quickly fix the problem by sealing those holes with a clear silicone sealant.

Step 3: Now it’s time to determine your gutter systems are flowing properly. Using a garden hose, gently run water through your gutters. If the water stands still, increase the grade of your gutter to create a more efficient drainage slope; to do this, simply bend the hangars. Ideally, gutters should have a ¼” slope for every 5-10 feet.

Step 4: Sagging gutters = useless gutters. When gutters sag, water gets trapped, remains stagnant, and acts as a magnet for water damage and mosquito infestations. Typically, sagging gutters are caused by nails that have come loose. Repairing this issue is simple: you may tighten the nails, or, replace them with screws.

Step 5: As you’re cleaning, you may find that the downspout is clogged. If this is the case, work to loosen the debris from the bottom up using a hose with a high-pressure. If that doesn’t loosen the clog, you may need the help of a plumber’s snake, or, worst case scenario, it might be time to clean your downspout, and tackle the clog, hands-on.

Gutter cleaning should not be seen as a daunting task by homeowners. Simply follow these 5 steps and you should have no problems.

About Woodard Cleaning & Restoration

Woodard Cleaning & Restoration was founded in 1946 by Earl and Nancy Woodard. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Woodard services the greater metro area (Illinois, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and many more). Woodard is proud to serve as the preferred provider for cleaning & restoration services. Our cleaning services include carpet, hard surface, furniture, and rug cleaning for both residential and commercial properties. We also provide water, fire, board-up, storm and smoke restoration services for residential and commercial clients. For information or questions submit a form online or call us at 314-227-3932.

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