While gutters and downspouts can collect debris any time of year, the most popular times are fall and spring, when trees are changing significantly. At P.J. Fitzpatrick, we suggest cleaning and checking your gutters and downspouts at least twice per year to make sure they’re functioning properly.
How to Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
- Firstly, choose a day to clean your gutters that has sunny skies in the forecast; you don’t want to be in the middle of cleaning and get caught in the rain.
- Next, start your cleaning at the corner of your home near your downspout.
- Position your ladder against your roof and secure your bucket and s-hook or your trash bag onto it.
- Put on your work gloves and climb up to your gutters as close to the downspout as possible.
- Use your trowel or spade to scoop out your gutter debris and deposit it into the bucket or trash bag; carefully use your hands to free up any remaining pieces.
- Continue along your gutter, working away from your downspout.
- Once you’ve removed the majority of your gutter debris, screw a sprayer attachment onto your garden hose and hose down the inside of your gutters.
- If your downspout is clogged, use your hose to spray high-pressure water into the downspout on the upper end and on the lower end. This should loosen up the clog.
- If the water doesn’t work to unclog your downspout, use a plumber’s snake to break up the blockage.
- Once you’re done cleaning your gutters and downspouts, inspect your gutters for any cracks, leaks, or bowing. If you find any issues that need attended to, give our gutter repair experts a call.
Tired of cleaning your gutters?
Contact us about our Gutter Pro system.
- Gutter Pro uses existing gutters without modifications
- Different colors to match your home’s exterior
- Discrete installation blending into your already existing gutters
- Never clean your gutter’s again!
