Gutter Cleaning Safety Precautions
Gutter cleaning is a crucial part of home maintenance, yet it’s easy to overlook. The chore involves working on a ladder and poses safety risks. You’ll be glad you read this!
Clogged gutters can’t transport rainwater, resulting in water damage to the house. They can also promote the growth of mildew and fungus. Regular gutter cleaning eliminates these problems and keeps the gutter system healthy.
1. Use a Ladder
Gutter cleaning requires working on a ladder. Ladder accidents cause thousands of injuries and 150 deaths a year in the U.S., but you can prevent them by using proper ladder safety.
Use a ladder that is tall enough to reach the gutters and is sturdy enough for you and your tools. Avoid step ladders, which are unstable and can easily tip over when you lean on them to access the gutters.
Choose a ladder with stabilizer arms that improve stability, especially when you add weight to the ladder. Work with a buddy to help you secure the ladder, hand you tools, and assist you in climbing and moving around the ladder.
A combination ladder can operate as a step ladder and an extension ladder and offers the best of both worlds. They also come with built-in ladder levelers that make them ideal for gutter cleaning jobs. These ladders also offer a comfortable standing platform for working in the gutter.
2. Use a Bucket
A bucket or yard waste bag will catch the debris and keep it from falling to the ground where it can clog up other gutters. It also makes the clean-up process much easier.
Gutter clogs can stain the exterior of a home and deteriorate roofing shingles. They can also cause leaks in gutter corners and downspouts.
Keeping the gutters clean will prevent these problems and help protect a property’s value. Clogged gutters can also attract rats, mice, and other pests that can carry diseases. They also provide breeding and nesting sites for mosquitoes, which spread the deadly West Nile Virus. Debris in a gutter can also overflow and cause the eroding of the side of a building or soil erosion. It may even result in the sagging of the gutter. Gutter cleaning will reduce the need for expensive repairs or replacements to a building’s roof and siding. It will also improve the appearance of a property and prevent the build-up of dirt and grime that can make a structure look dingy or dirty.
3. Wear Safety Gear
Gutter cleaning is a necessary chore that prevents water damage to your home and foundation, and it can also prevent mold, wood rot, and other pest problems. However, it is important to take safety precautions when doing this task, including wearing the right gear.
Wearing protective gloves makes handling thorns, pine needles, and other prickly debris easier. It also protects your hands from cuts and stings caused by insects that are often found in gutters.
Lastly, be sure to use a ladder that is tall enough to reach your gutters, and secure it on stable ground with even footing. It is also important to avoid overreaching, as this can throw off your center of gravity and cause you to fall from the ladder. Ideally, you should move the ladder to a new location frequently to decrease your chances of falling from high up on the roof. This can be difficult when cleaning out clogged gutters, however.
4. Clean the Downspouts
Gutter downspouts can become clogged with debris, which affects the flow of rainwater off your roof. This can cause soil erosion, create ditches in your yard, carve pathways through the lawn, and even kill your grass. Keeping the gutters clean and flowing freely prevents these problems.
The best way to clean the gutter downspouts is to remove the debris by hand using a ladder, a bucket, and a gutter scoop (or garden trowel). Once you’re done, flush the downspout with water from a hose to make sure it flows.
This process takes time and should be performed on a sunny, dry day. It’s also important to avoid overreaching when working on the ladder. This can cause you to lose balance and fall, or worse, knock the ladder over. To avoid this, work slowly & carefully and never step on the top rung of the ladder. It’s also a good idea to have a spotter nearby to help stabilize the ladder if necessary. Click here for the next blog post.
