How to Clean Gutters & Downspouts

Many homeowners are currently taking some time to complete seasonal home improvement activities. As a nationwide leader in quality inspection services, The BrickKicker is here to help! Here at The BrickKicker, it is our profession and our personal interest to help our clients become more informed. Whether you’re buying, selling, or currently owning property, knowing about gutter maintenance is important. Explore this guide on how to clean downspouts and gutters quickly and efficiently, compliments of The BrickKicker.

Essential Tips for Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts

Your gutters and downspouts work to direct water away from the roof of your Naperville home and onto the ground. Without them, your roof would quickly deteriorate. That’s why it’s so important for you to learn how to clean gutter dirt out of your downspouts and gutters. If you’re wondering about how to clean gutters and downspouts and what tools you can use to clean downspouts, read on to learn about everything you need to know. If you’re trying to get your house in tip-top shape for the market or you’re just looking to bring it up to spec, contact the BrickKicker for help with an affordable home inspection near Chicago.

Gutter Cleaning Frequency

So, how often should you clean your gutters? For starters, consider the climate where you live and how many trees are located on your property and near your gutters. The more often leaves and other tree debris fall into your gutters, the more often you’ll need to clean them out. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you complete this process twice a year, especially before the winter season.

What Tools Can I Use to Clean Downspouts and Gutters? 

The first step of how to clean gutters and downspouts is to gather the requisite tools. To cover all your bases, collect the following tools: 

• Garbage bag
• Rag
• Garden hose 
• Leaf scooper (you can improvise) 
• Work gloves 
• Extension ladder

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, proceed to the next steps of how to clean gutter dirt. 

What Steps Do I Take to Clean My Downspouts and Gutters? 

• Position your ladder along the edge of the house. If your house is two-story, you’ll need an extension ladder. You may be able to get by with a stepladder for a single-story home. Regardless of which type of ladder you’re choosing, make sure to not step past the manufacturer limit. Take care to position the ladder on flat, firm ground. 
• Clean your gutters using your scooper and gloved hands to break dams of leaves and debris apart. Make sure that you work with short sections only, so you don’t lean too far in one direction and risk falling off your ladder. Make sure you move your ladder as you make your way down the eves of the house. 
• Clean your downspouts. These are the vertical gutters that carry water from your roof to the ground. You’ll need to determine if your down spots are blocked. To do this, insert a hose into the roof-level entrance of your downspout and get some water flowing. If you detect blockage, plug up the ground level opening of the downspout with a rag. Then, turn the water pressure from your roof-level hose up as high as it will go. This should flood out the blockage. If it doesn’t, however, you’ll need to use a plumbing snake. 
• Rinse your gutters and downspouts: Collect all the loose debris into a garbage bag and throw it away or compost it. Then, put your hose in your gutters and let it run at full pressure for several minutes to rinse out stubborn grim.

Have More Questions About Cleaning Gutter Dirt? 

If you have more questions about how to clean gutters and downspouts, just give the BrickKicker a call at 888-339-5245. We’ll answer any remaining questions you have about what tools you can use to clean downspouts. If you’re tidying up your home to stay on top of the upkeep or you’re prepping your house for the market, we can also arrange for a home inspection near Aurora, so you can be aware of every last item that should be on your home care checklist. In the meantime, check out our blog for other informative reads, including our overviews of how to detect roof leaks, the average lifespans of residential roofs, and more!

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