Regular gutter maintenance is essential for keeping your home protected during the year. If you neglect them, you put your home at risk for serious water damage, such as mold, mildew, flooding, and even structural and foundation issues.
Cleaning your gutters may seem like a no-brainer. How hard could it be? There are actually several gutter cleaning mistakes that could put you and your home in danger. In the decades Tacoma Gutter Service has been in business, we’ve helped many homeowners fix these mistakes to keep their gutters working properly. Here are the five most common ones we’ve dealt with, as well as how to avoid them next time around.
Not cleaning your gutters
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a homeowner is not cleaning your gutters at all. If you’re ignoring this task altogether, then you could be putting your home at risk. Clogged gutters can become weighed down with debris and then pull away from your home’s siding. When they’re blocked, rain water can also spill out over the side and damage your home’s exterior—defeating the purpose of having gutters in the first place. Make sure you’re cleaning your gutters every season; if you don’t have the time, hire a professional gutter service company, like Tacoma Gutter Service, to get the job done for you.
Power washing gutters
On the surface, power washing your gutters seems like a brilliant idea. However, the pressure that would remove all the grime and debris from your gutters can actually remove the entire gutter system from the side of your home. If you do decide to power wash your gutters, make sure it’s on the lowest setting. To save yourself the trouble—and potential damage to your system—call a gutter service company.
Ignoring safety
If you’ve never cleaned out your gutters before, think about it…how would you go about doing it? If you’re picturing yourself lying on the roof, carefully digging out the debris that’s accumulated in your gutters—you’re setting yourself up for danger. Kneeling, standing, or lying on your roof does not give you a stable surface to work off, which could result in serious injuries should you take a tumble. Use a ladder whenever you clean out your gutters, and make sure you have a partner to hold the ladder steady every time as well.
Going in without the right equipment
Similarly, if you’re not using the proper equipment when you clean out your gutters, you could be jeopardizing your safety. There are specific tools and protective gear to use to keep yourself safe. You never know what is going to be stuck in or fly out of your gutters, so protective eye gear and heavy-duty gloves are always necessary. You also want to make sure you’re wearing sturdy shoes—not sandals or worn-out sneakers—that’ll give you support as you move up and down the ladder.
Cleaning them and leaving it at that
Cleaning your gutters is important for keeping them properly functioning, but you don’t want to stop there. While you’re cleaning your gutters, make sure you take the time to look for any possible damage or issues. Splits, leaks, and sagging can lead to serious and expensive problems like basement flooding, landscape erosion, and cracks in your foundation.
If you can avoid these mistakes, it’s certainly possible to clean your gutters yourself without any issues. Typically, it’s far safer to hire a professional team like Tacoma Gutter Service to take care of your cleaning—and potentially, repairing—tasks. We can get the job done quickly, saving you an entire afternoon, as well as the stress or worry of getting it done. Give us a call at (253) 927-7111 or visit us online to schedule your free estimate.
This post first appeared on https://tacomagutterservice.com