How to Clean Gutters
Have you cleaned your gutters lately? Many experts recommend that homeowners clean out their gutters at least twice a year, in late spring and early fall, and possibly more often if you have trees that shed a lot (like pines). It’s important to remove any clogs so that water can freely flow to the downspout, since overflowing water can cause your foundation to erode and crack. Plus, standing water can attract mosquitoes, damage your roof, and cause your gutters to rust and corrode.
While you should always defer to any manufacturing or installation notes specifically pertaining to your gutter system, here are some general instructions for how to clean your gutters:
- Check the forecast and plan to tackle this project after a few nice days have passed, since it’s considerably easier to remove dry debris.
- Starting near the downspout, use a trowel or your hands to remove large debris (such as leaves, pinecones, and twigs) and dump it into a bucket.
- Remove and clean the downspout strainer.
- Use a hose to flush out small debris, starting at the end opposite the downspout.
- Remove and clean the downspout strainer again to prevent future clogs.
- Spray water directly into the downspout to check for clogs.
Gutter Guards Make Life Easier for Kimberly, WI, Homeowners
If you’d rather avoid cleaning your gutters altogether, consider having gutter guards installed. And, for the top gutter guards in Kimberly, Wisconsin, turn to the experts at ABT Foundation Solutions, Inc. Our gutter guards feature multi-patented microfiltration technology that keeps out debris larger than half the width of a strand of hair, allowing them to perform 10 times better than comparable systems.
Contact us for more information. And, if you’re concerned about icicles and ice dams forming during the winter, be sure to ask about the heated system we have available.