Gutter cleaning is one of the essential tasks when it comes to housekeeping. This way you prevent foundation damage, leaks and similar problems. This job may seem very simple, but don’t forget that it can be quite dangerous. When is it dangerous to clean gutters? This refers to situations in which you do not have good enough equipment, tools, knowledge and make similar mistakes.
That’s why it’s important to know what common mistakes you should avoid. People who have a high roof or those who have never cleaned gutters before are twice as likely.
To avoid dangerous and costly mistakes, you must not be insecure when cleaning. Then it is easiest to make a mistake, lose balance on the ladder, etc. Follow the precautionary measures and avoid some common mistakes, and find out exactly what we mean below.
1. Using a vacuum cleaner or leaf blower
While this may seem like a very practical solution, you will probably create more problems for yourself than you thought. It’s very simple. A vacuum cleaner or leaf blower will only blow up the leaves as well as the rest of the dirt in the air. This means that dirt and leaves can end up in hard-to-reach places such as your roof, attic, windows, etc. In that case, you will only move the dirt from one place to another.
2. Holding the bucket in your hands while cleaning
A lot of people carry a bucket with them in which they plan to put dirt and leaves, but don’t do that. Remember that you can endanger your safety a lot, and that is the last thing you want to do. Instead of planning to hold the bucket in your hands and be unstable on the ladder, free your hands.
They must be completely free for you to clean, adhere to and better balance. You can simply tie the bucket to the ladder or place it in a suitable place on the roof. This way you will be safe and you will finish all the work quickly.
3. Not wearing protective equipment
It is very important that you wear adequate clothes. Such clothing should protect you from possible injuries, falls, etc. Gutter maintenance is risky, because it involves a great elevation and balancing on the ladder. That is why it is important to take the right precautions.
This means that you must have eye protection with you. This is definitely the first thing you should wear, because gravel, granules and other things on your roof can catch your eye. The choice of shoes is the most important, because they must have a good tread.
That way you won’t have to worry about how you stand and whether you’ll slip on the ladder. In addition, you must wear work gloves. So we must not forget about hand protection. You can never know for sure what is in your gutter.
Remember that there can be various pests, but also developed bird eggs, stones, twigs, etc. They will also help you collect dirt as quickly as possible.
4. You have the wrong approach to cleaning
For thorough cleaning, you will need the appropriate equipment, but also the right tools. This means that you should first remove the leaves and other debris that have accumulated in your gutter over time. When you have completely removed the large debris, you can use a garden hose. It is necessary to direct the water hose towards the ends and vertical water pipes.
This will direct the water to the side of the gutter that is falling and you will not return the dirt to yourself. However, you must first make sure that there is nothing left of the large dirt. This will prevent the gutters from clogging. If you notice that your gutter is already clogged before cleaning, use the cables you normally use for the toilet. Use only materials that will not damage your gutter.
5. Gutter cleaning at the wrong time
It is desirable to clean the gutters in a certain period of the year, in the fall. Anything before or after that may be unnecessary. Since colder weather brings a lot of problems, it is important to prepare your gutter during the fall and prevent it from clogging. Then it will rain frequently, and later the snow will not be able to do anything. However, if you do not do that, you will have much bigger problems later.
6. You don’t ask for help when you need it
Although you can find a lot of advice on this topic online, sometimes it is best to leave the matter to professionals. For example, if you realize that you do not have good enough equipment and experience, do not even start cleaning the gutters. You also need to have someone by your side while doing this, and if you plan to do everything yourself, forget about this process.
Fortunately, there are a large number of companies that provide great services. They will do this job very quickly, prepare your gutter for the next period of the year and will not leave a mess behind like you would. We will agree that it has many advantages, and the costs are not great.
7. You don’t have a gutter guard
These shields are one of the best things ever, because they prevent the capture of leaves, twigs and other things. In this way, they allow water to flow freely through the system, which means that they eliminate the possibility of clogging. If you live in an environment full of trees or rarely clean gutters, you are making a big mistake if you do not have these protectors.
Conclusion:
Therefore, proper gutter cleaning requires skill and the correct equipment. If you feel that you do not have this with you, simply call someone to help you. It can be a family member, friends, but it is best to be done by professionals. No matter which variant you choose, this job must be done carefully. Otherwise you will make very costly mistakes.
