Tips for cleaning out your gutters without a ladder
Proper gutter maintenance is one of the most important things you can invest in for your home. Conscientious homeowners know that keeping gutters clear of debris allows precipitation runoff to drain properly, preventing water from running down the sides of the house, damaging the walls and foundation of the home.
Gutter maintenance is, however, difficult and possibly even dangerous work if you clean your gutters using the traditional method of gutter cleaning which calls from climbing a ladder to clear out the gutter detritus. Luckily, there are other ways to clean your gutters without the need for the use of a ladder.
What to consider before choosing a gutter cleaning tool
There are several different alternatives to climbing a ladder to help clear out your obstructed gutters. Prior to embarking on your gutter clearing adventure, there are a few things you may need to consider in order to pick the best ladder-free gutter cleaning method for your home. First, you need to figure out the height of your roof and gutters to make sure your chosen tool will reach all your gutters. Next, you need to determine if the detritus in your gutters is made up primarily of dry or wet debris or you might end up choosing a method that does not successfully clear your gutters. You will also need to consider what lies beneath the gutters and if it will be disturbed by your gutter clearing activities, including whether or not debris might land in areas that you can’t access to clear away. Whatever method you choose, make sure to wear garden gloves and protective eyewear. The best way to ensure your gutters are clean is to hire a gutter cleaning professional and forgo the gadgets.
Ladder-free gutter cleaning alternatives
Perhaps the easiest way of cleaning out your gutters is by using a hose and spigot which uses a controlled stream of water to wash away small debris from your gutters. You can easily find hose attachments that are essentially telescoping poles that allow you to focus the spray where needed to clear out your gutters. This method has the drawback of possibly getting you wet and dirty in the process and will certainly spray debris around your house which then needs to be cleaned up afterwards.
Another ladder-free way to clean gutters involves using a gutter vacuum. Gutter vacuums clean the length of your home while staying on the ground through the use of a shop vac or a leaf blower with a reverse function. Here you will either need to purchase an attachment that connects to the apparatus, or you can make one yourself with aluminum duct elbows and a hose or extension tubing. From here, you can suck dry leaves through the extension or tubing and clear your gutters with ease. However, it is never easy to anticipate the weight of the debris you encounter, which means this method comes with safety risks.
When you are aware that the material in your gutters may be too wet or heavy for the above cleaning methods, you might use gutter cleaning tongs. In theory, gutter cleaning tongs allow you to simply grab the debris and lift it directly out of the gutters. These tongs are typically maneuvered through the use of a rope attached to a metal pole which can be extended to your gutters’ height specificities. Other tools similarly use brush or rake attachments to manually churn out or release wet, heavy, caked material from your gutters.
Contact a gutter cleaning specialist
Ultimately, none of the options above are 100% safe as removing heavy debris always carries the risk of personal injury. If your gutters are clogged you may already be considering your options, searching online for “gutter cleaning near me.” If this is you, call Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning® to help. Our team of highly trained professionals can easily clear your gutters relieving you from the arduous task of cleaning them yourself. Get $25 off your first gutter cleaning when you call today!