Gutter cleaning is an unwelcome chore for many reasons. Working at unfamiliar heights, taking precautionary measures, and in many cases, its an entire day of hard work. No wonder no one wants to do it. Since it is usually not done very frequently, homeowners fall victim to simple mistakes due to carelessness and inexperience. This often leads to injury or expensive damage to the home. We want to bring attention to these hazards and encourage you to install the GutterShutter system before any harm happens. Here are some issues to be aware of if you decide to tackle gutter cleaning yourself:
Improper Ladder Safety
Improper use of ladders is one of the most frequent causes of home emergencies. More than 164,000 people a year need hospital treatment from ladder-related injuries, according to the World Health Organization. They are necessary to clean out gutters but using the wrong type, a damaged or worn out ladder, or insecure positioning all contribute to the high rate of falls.
Working Alone
Homeowners often want to take care of chores as quickly as possible, choosing to forgo waiting for help. The task of clearing your gutter may not seem like a two-person job, but you’ll likely find yourself needing a second pair of hands. There should always be another person present to hold the ladder, hand-off tools and call 911 if needed.
Inflicting Damage
Gutter cleaning should be done 2-3 times a year, meaning it’s not done often enough to develop real skill, but too often if you value your time. With inexperience, comes a higher risk of a misstep. That means damages to the house’s siding, broken windows, accidental ripping of gutters, or harm to the roof shingles. Additionally, there is an electrocution risk while positioned near electrical wiring.
Contact with Insects and Mold
Gutters are a breeding ground for pests and fungus. It’s highly probable you’ll encounter upset creatures, including the wasps and bees that nest in corners and crevices. There is also the presence of harmful bacteria and mold spores that grow in the decaying, wet leaves you are clearing out.
Practicing proper home safety requires eliminating hazardous tasks and should be a primary concern for attentive owners. To prevent these novice mistakes and to easily maintain a great appearance year-round, find a dealer to install GutterShutter today.
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