Gutter Maintenance
Cleaning out gutters is an important job, which you should do at least twice a year. Otherwise you run the risk of them overflowing, and causing damage to the exterior of your house. Here are some simple gutter maintenance tips, which should keep your gutters clean and running freely!
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Start by physically cleaning the gutters of debris. You’ll need a garden hose, a bucket and gloves to protect your hands. Firstly, you need to remove debris from around the downspout. This is where most clogging occurs, as leaves and dirt gather there. Scoop out as much muck as you can with your hands (hence the need for gloves), and put it all in the bucket. Now, wash the gutters clean with the hose.
If debris won’t go down the downspout, then there’s probably a clog in it, which is slightly harder to clear. If you have a high-pressure nozzle on your hose, spray this down the downspout. Try and scoop out as much of the debris from the bottom of the downspout as you can. If this doesn’t work, a plumber’s snake, run up from the bottom of the downspout, can often be successful. If all else fails, you’ll need to remove the downspout from the wall to have a proper look inside.
Check your gutters for any holes or corrosion, as well as any sagging areas. Once you’ve cleared debris from the downspout, run water along the gutter to check for any leaks. Small leaks can be sealed with gutter sealant. Any larger leaks will require new gutters.
If your gutters are beginning to sag, then it’s likely that the nails or spikes holding them in place have become loose. In many cases, this can be corrected by simply hammering the nails back into the wall. If they won’t hold, they will need to be replaced. It’s easiest to replace them with screws. Screws, however, cannot replace spikes. If your spikes won’t re-attach, you’ll need to put them back into the wall slightly to the side and above or below your original hole. You’ll also need to re-seal the old hole in the gutter with gutter sealant to prevent leaks.
You should also check for any rust in your gutters. You can ascertain whether it’s surface rust by using sandpaper to try and remove it. If the rust comes away easily, with just a little sanding, then it’s just surface rust. However, if the rust goes a lot deeper it is likely to be eating into the metal of the gutter, and that section of guttering will need to be replaced.
Finally, if your gutters are made from painted steel or aluminium then they will probably need to be painted from time to time. Use specialist paint for metals, and make sure to paint them in dry weather, so that no moisture is clinging to the gutters.
If you are still having problems with your gutters after following these tips, then you may need specialist help.
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