Now that the warmer weather is approaching we need to start looking at the odd jobs we can do around both the house and the garden. The gutters are an integral part of our home system because they work to stop water from reaching our foundations and getting into the brickwork of our homes. Gutters are designed to direct water away from the house and then flush it into the garden.
However, a lot of us neglect our gutters and this can lead to debris building up in the area. If we do not clean out gutters every so often we can end up with sticks, leaves and other material blocking the way and this in turn can cause the water to build up and leak into the house. The last thing you want is to neglect this easy Plumbing job and end up causing major damage to your home. Therefore it is important to start thinking about cleaning out those gutters and keeping the home healthy and happy.
How often?
The question of how often you should be emptying out your gutters will depend on the are you live in. If you live in an area with plenty of trees, then it is likely that the leaves and debris will fall into your gutter and build up over time. It is recommended that the gutters are cleaned in the early spring and in the autumn.
Another reason to clean your gutters during the spring is that many pests lay their eggs in moist gutters and during the late spring and summer these pests will come to life. It is often mosquitos who will take advantage of this, but honey bees may do the same so make sure you can clear out a nest before it spawns.
If your gutter is directly underneath a tree, then you will likely need to clean out the gutters more often to prevent the leaves and sticks building up and blocking your way, you can even look into trimming the tree so that it does not directly overhang your gutter.
DIY or professional?
Most of the time there is no need to call in a professional, and you can easily get the job done yourself. To safely clean out your gutters you will need a sturdy ladder, pipe cleaner and gloves. When using a ladder always make sure that it is on solid, flat ground to keep it safe and prevent it from moving. If it lands on soft soil then you can place down some wood to even out the land and provide an even spot to rest on. Ideally you should always have someone with you to make sure that the ladder stays solid and safe on the ground. This will hopefully prevent any major injury occurring.
If you do decide to have a professional look at the roof for you, they will be able to clean the gutter out and also perform any small repairs which are needed on the gutter to keep it strong and flowing where it should.