Most residential and commercial properties have some form of rainwater collection runoff system. This is common to keep water from pooling on the roof or on other areas of the site where it may not be desirable. Homes without proper rainwater drainage systems run the risk of foundation damage, structural integrity loss, landscaping corrosion, soffit and fascia rotting, as well as lower level basement flooding. Some people find they can clean their systems themselves if they have the proper tools, while others prefer to hire an expert gutter cleaner to do the job for them because it is safer or because they may not have the time, knowledge, or resources to do the job well. Whether you choose to clean your system yourself, or you are thinking of hiring a gutter cleaning professional, there are some common cleaning myths you should be aware of.
- Leaf protection guards do not need to be cleaned. In reality, more frequently than not, washing the leaf protectors would have to be done as often as washing the gutters themselves. The guard diverts debris over the edge of the system while still capturing runoff rainwater from the roof. Because of the designs of the leaf guards, they can still allow pine needles, small leaves, sticks and other smaller debris to be trapped into the drainage system. You should consider this when choosing a leaf guard as well.
- You do not need to clean with any regularity. You need a timetable for cleaning your gutter. Not only do you need to clean your gutters according to your home place, time of season and projected rate of debris accumulation, but you do need to conduct impromptu gutter inspections to ensure that it still functions properly. Unexpected clogs can occur after bad weather or quick changes in weather or season. This can cause unexpected clogs that you will want to be aware of.
- Cleaning is very simple. Cleaning Gutter can look easy but it is very dangerous. At the top of a ladder, professionals carry gear and clean gutters. The mission will become much more difficult to accomplish on your own, depending on the height of the gutters. However, if you have the right tools and are comfortable on a ladder, cleaning them yourself is very do-able. Just do some research on your own before you head up the ladder.
- It is enough to just remove the leaves. It’s false. As much as we would like to agree with this theory, a thorough cleaning of the gutter involves more than only eliminating anything which does not belong. Most cleaning companies have several years of experience in servicing homes. The quality of the gutter project relies on it being properly checked and washed.
- Your system should be cleaned annually. We highly suggest that you sweep the gutters at least twice a year. You may need to clean them more than twice a year, depending on your location, strength of seasons and surrounding trees. That’s why it’s best to contact a cleaning professional to take care of that for you.