Drip, drip, drip—what’s that sound, we ask at House Cleaning Falls Church. It’s the tell-tale symptom of gutters that need cleaning.
Your gutters protect your home from excess water. They should be cleaned thoroughly every spring and fall. If not, leaves and twigs can build up and clog the downspout so water can’t drain properly. This damages the roof and fascia, i.e. the board behind your gutters. When excess water pours over the gutters or from leaks, this can end up in your home’s foundations, the basement or crawlspace.
Gutter cleaning involves ladders and is risky. Here are House Cleaning Falls Church tips:
- Check the weather first! You need a dry day, obviously. And the task is easier if the weather hasn’t been wet for a few days beforehand. This allows the debris to dry out.
- You can buy hose-end attachments that are specifically for gutters.
- If you need to use a ladder, start at the downspout. Remove the bigger bits with a trowel—twigs and leaves- and dump them in a bucket.
- Then, flush out the finer rubbish such as dirt and sand with a hose. Start at the end opposite your downspout.
- If the water doesn’t drain, your gutters might be clogged. Check at the drain end. Fit your hose pipe with a small nozzle and use this to run water through the pipe. Reattach the drain and try flushing water through the gutters again.
- Leaks in the gutter will need repairing. It’s best to use a professional for this service.
- If you have a lot of trees around your property, you might need to clean your gutters more frequently.
SAFETY FIRST
If you have gutters above one storey or you aren’t comfortable using ladders, hire a professional. You should clean gutters while standing on a ladder, not your roof. Ensure the ladder is secure. Don’t step on the top three rungs and do not reach too far over while cleaning your gutters. Use wire hooks to attach buckets to the ladder – one each side. One bucket is for the debris and the other is for your tools.
Here at Budget Maids we provide cleaning services in Olney, a Maid Service Potomac, House Cleaning Falls Church or cleaning services in Columbia and surrounds (i.e. VA and most of Maryland). Why not give us a call today and let us help you with all the spring cleaning you need to do?
Pic thanks to Eric Schmuttenmaer on flickr.
