Le-Squeegee is here with some spring tips on how to make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean for any rain in the forecast.
Clean seasonally – Cleaning gutters and downspouts every three months is a good idea to ensure they stay clear and free of debris. Setting reminders on your phone calendar is a good start. Regular cleaning also helps to make sure that the task is not overwhelming when you do decide it is time to clean them. Also, clean gutters can properly divert water away from a property and prevent foundation issues caused by ground saturation.
Use a tarp or drop cloth for damp contents in gutters – Set a tarp beneath you as you remove wet contents from a gutter. Simply keep it underneath you and drop the contents below. Once you have a full tarp, scoop it into your compost or appropriate trash bin.
Clean as much as possible from your gutters – Sometimes it is necessary to uses a garden trowel or spade to remove sludge from the gutters. This is an important step as this buildup can create too much weight and ruin gutters or easily cause a blockage.
Inspect and test downspouts – If possible perform a visual inspection of all downspouts. If it can not be done safely, test downspouts with a garden hose. Run water through the downspout and ensure it is flowing freely.
Use a plumbing snake to clear downspouts – If a downspout is clogged, a plumbing snake can be a useful tool. Downspouts are often clogged at their curve or connection to a horizontal extension. A plumbing snake can clear the debris if utilized properly.
Run water to flush and test the system – Use a garden hose and test sections of the gutter and downspout system. Let it run for a few minutes to see if the system gets clogged or leaks in any areas. This is a good final step to ensure your cleaning has worked.
