Cleaning your Gutters - Process:

I live in the Pacific Northwest so each year we know we are going to get our fair share of rainfall. It starts in late October and usually lasts well into April with regular downpours a common occurrence. Each year I have to clean my gutters out since my property has large trees that shed leaves into the gutters and clogs them up. It can be the type of job that has to be done twice a year or more often, depending on the rain season and amount of leaves and debris in your gutters. My biggest problem is that my house is 2 storys high so I had to actually invest in a rather large 24' ladder so that I could reach the higher gutters. My regular 16' ladder is good for the lower gutters, but the upper ones are too high. I did it the first few years without any problems but then I had a major scare on the ladder a couple years back and realized I better let a professional handle it. They wanted $150 for a few hours work so I reluctantly allowed them to do it once but I have since taken control over the situation since then.

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I was probably unprepared the first few times I cleaned my gutters, but now I am a seasoned professional. Having the right equipment can make all the difference in the world and it certainly keeps the amount of time you are up on a ladder to a minimum. Dry to pick a dry day when you do decide to clean the rain gutters. Getting up on a ladder in wet weather is not only dangerous but it's "stupid". No sense in hurting yourself when you can plan for a dry period and do it then. Make sure your ladder is stable either on the ground or pavement. That was my problem a few years back when I nearly fell off the 16 foot ladder. I was at an angle and as I went up the ladder the weight shifted and it all of a sudden fell to one side and I hung up for my life. I was able to descent the rungs without getting hurt, but falling from 16 feet would not have been a pretty sight. Once the ladder is in place, go up the first time without any equipment to see what you are in for. It's amazing how much debris, leaves, twigs, dirt, etc. can get into gutters that are literally 15 to 20 feet off the ground. Once I get a feeling for what is going to be required, I take up the necessary tools. If it's just leaves, I try to get a bucket up the ladder with me so I can simply take the leaves out of the rain gutter and place them into the bucket. If you feel not so stable with a bucket next to you at 15 feet, then just take the leaves and drop them down to the ground or pavement and pick them up later. Removing twigs, branches, and things like pine cones is fairly easy, but the silt is what I have trouble with. If you have a hose with a decent nozzle then take that up the ladder and spray down the gutter line to get the dirt and smaller debris to wash out of the gutters. Sometimes you can create enough water flow that the debris will go down the gutter and the downspout. Some experts suggest using a leaf blower to get out dried up leaves that have congregated in the gutters. I don't worry about getting things perfect since more leaves and debris will probably get into the gutters after I clean anyways. I put plastic screens near the downspouts in my gutters to prevent larger pieces of debris to get into them and potentially clog them up. The gutter screens are cheap and actually do a good job but will need to be removed and cleaned before being placed back into the gutters. Gutter shields are another option, although they are more expensive and not totally failproof. I usually take my time and work my way across the gutter - moving the ladder a few feet and then cleaning out a new section of the gutter. On a good day I can get most of the work done in an hour, but if lots of debris is in them it can take up to 2 hours to get them clean. Repairs are something you probably won't have, but I have found leaky joints where my downspouts meet the main gutters and there is an easy solution to that. Buy some gutter sealant and caulk the joint from the inside so that the water will not esacpe and force it to run down the interior of the downspout and not the exterior. Gutter sealant is cheap and it goes on in minutes. NEVER try to clean your gutters from up on the roof. Gravity will be pulling you downwards and there is a good chance you will fall forward and maybe even fall off the roof. Always use a ladder to reach up towards the gutters so you can keep your balance better. I often have my wife hold the ladder when I'm really high on the 24 foot ladder just so I know it's safe. Lowes website has an excellent section on maintaining and cleaning your gutters that we found very useful. You can find it online HERE. Get pointers on preventing clogs, sealing leaky joints, patching and repairing gutters, removing downspout blockages, and much more.

Equipment/Tools Needed:

Cleaning gutters can be a sloppy job and most likely your hands will take a beating so make sure you have a good pair of waterproof gloves to put on. A stable ladder is definitely important for safety reasons. A frames are ok, but I prefer using an extension ladder that will lean into the side of the house and give my lots of support. Just make sure the bottom of the ladder is securely in place and level. If you can get a bucket up the ladder safely, it's a good idea to have it handy. I often take the leaves and debris out of the rain gutter and just throw it down to the ground which can be a bit messy. Our friends at Home Depot suggested that we take up a garden trowel or a piece of equipment called a "gutter scoop" so you can get the debris out easier. I personally don't own one, but it's probably not a bad idea so your hands don't get cut or scraped as bad. A garden hose is good to have, but keep in mind that trying to balance on a ladder and use a garden hose to clean out a gutter can take a little practice. Be careful if you plan on using a hose to clean out the smaller debris and dirt at the bottom of the rain gutter. My gutter joints are rather smaller and the opening is not big enough for my hands to get into. Therefore, I use a metal coat hanger turned into a hook so that I can reach into the section that leads off the main gutter and into the downspout. It allows me to remove clogged leaves and built up debris that is jammed in there.

How often should you clean rain gutters?

That is a question we get all the time and there is no magic #, but twice a year is a good goal to have. Once in the spring and then again in the late fall after the majority of the leaves have fallen and before the major rains occur. If you live in a dry climate, then the springtime cleaning is probably not necessary but still do a quick check of the gutters to visually inspect them. I find that in rainy climates, like those here in Portland, Oregon, I clean the gutters twice in the winter just to be sure. The wind and rain combine to make for dirty gutters and a second cleaning in later January or early February is always worth it.

DIY vs Professional Gutting Cleaning Services:

Every year I get flyers in my mail or on my front door from gutter cleaning services, often just young college aged kids who are looking for extra work. As I mentioned above, I went with this option once and found it to be a bit too expensive for what you get. The "professional" gutter cleaner was up on his ladder for about 2 hours and I was charged $150 for the service. I will admit that the older I get (I'm not even 40 yet) I'll probably change my mind on the do it yourself mentality I have, but for now I am able and can get up on a ladder just fine and do the work myself. Some of my neighbors let professionals clean their gutters, but I often hear complaints about broken branches on shrubs and trees and debris found on flower beds that must have come from the gutters. Certainly the older folks out there should be very careful when up on a ladder. My father, almost 80 years old, still gets up on a step ladder to clean his lower gutters, but I help him with the higher ones that require a larger ladder. A leading cause of injury around your house is falling off a ladder, keep that in mind the older you get. Bottom line, try cleaning your gutters by yourself at least once and see how long it takes and determine if it's worth it. Otherwise, go with the rain gutter cleaning services and stay safe down on solid ground. Don't get rooked for more than $150 though. I have a 3400 square foot house with lots of gutters to clean so I can understand paying that amount, but for someone with a single level 1400 square foot house, you shouldn't be paying more than $50 to $100 for the service.

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