Cleaning Out Gutters

Here's How I Clean Out My Gutters:

First, the background: I have used popsicle sticks, tapered pieces of wood, spatulas, my hands, my gloved hands, garden water hoses, pressure washes, and leaf blowers to clean the leaves, composted organic material (I live in cyclical cicada country), twigs, small branches and run-off roofing material out of my gutters.

Second, I installed those wire leaf guards where the downspouts come out of the gutters. This has saved a huge amount of time as I no longer have to flush the downspouts, meaning I do not have to haul the hose up the ladder with me.

Third, I use a sturdy ladder that extends well above the gutter. I have learned how to balance it just so and get it vertical by trapping the legs under a heavy log while "walking" it up, hand over hand from underneath. I then walk it, by alternating the legs in sort of a stiff-legged, drunken gait, over to the house, before pulling on the rope to extend the ladder. I always make sure that the feet are well planted (on occasion I have staked them) and on level ground. If in doubt I have someone stand at the bottom to make sure the ladder stays put. Then I climb up one or two rungs and wiggle from side to side. This is how I make sure the ladder is on level ground, both of its feet are evenly planted and that it is parallel to the gutter it is resting on. I am not eager to test out the shock absorbing capabilities of my legs with a fall of twenty feet or more.

Fourth, choice of tool: The last few years, I have been using the leaf blower for cleaning out gutters I can get to from the roof. For the front of my house where the roof is too steep to walk on, I use a broom stick that I have shortened and screwed a rubber spatula blade in to at a right angle at the flat end. I have to reposition the ladder a few times, but it works. Obviously I am careful not to lean over too far in either direction.

For heavy tools like leaf blowers or hoses, I tie a rope to the tool and take a rope with me up the ladder. Then after I am secure, I pull up the tool. With lighter weight things like the spatula stick, I attach a lanyard to it and hook it to myself in a way that it will not interfere with my climbing.

Fifth, technique: You do not need me to tell you how to use a leaf blower to blow leaves out of the gutters or how to scoop the leaves toward you with the spatula affair. I do think it bears repeating, however, that it's the accumulation near the downspouts that forms little dams that is the most important to clean out. Rainwater and runoff from snow and ice need a place to go other than backing up under your houses roofing material.

Sixth, why I make sure to clean out the gutters even if there a still a few leaves hanging in there: Because I am neat; because if anything happens to me, I do not want the next owners of my house to think I was a slob; because I think it will help the gutters to last longer; because my father always did it. All of the above is background to the two main reasons for cleaning out the gutters: Number two: I hate to see the rain water pouring off of the roof, overflowing the gutters and possibly eroding the soil around the foundation so that water starts flowing toward the house rather than away from it. My number one reason for cleaning out gutters is because I really hate ice dams and the damage they can cause.

Keep in mind: If you are uncomfortable climbing ladders or getting up on your roof, do not be a hero: hire a professional.

In the next episode, I will tell you why I hate ice dams and what I did to scare them away from my roof.

Roof ABC's - The Basics
Flat Roof Leak Repair: Finding the Leak

Please email me at deb@fsbocomplete.com with your thoughts, comments, questions, or just to say "Hi".