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For many homeowners, cleaning out and inspecting gutters and downspouts is an unpleasant, yet unavoidable, chore that has to be done at least once or twice a year (even more if your house sits under a lot of trees). Clogged, overflowing gutters can damage your home's foundation, ruin your lawn and landscape, attract mold, and serve as a breeding ground for insects- including mosquitoes. Cleaning rain gutters year after year can be messy and dangerous, so here are some useful tips to make the job as safe and easy as possible.
Once you have removed loose debris from the gutters and downspouts, use a powerful spray from the garden hose to force water into each downspout to clear it. Once it's clear, flush each trough out with water and inspect it for proper drainage.
If you find a clog in a downspout, ream it out with a plumber's snake. Feed the snake into the spout while carefully twisting it, until you feel the downspout opening completely. Run water through the downspout to make sure the clog has completely cleared.
If you decide to add screens, some commercially available screens come equipped with hinges that allow you to access the gutter for cleaning. You can also make your own screens using aluminum chicken wire or a similar small wire mesh cut to size, and attaching them to the gutters with aluminum screws or rivets. If you have copper gutters, use copper anchors only, and choose screening materials made from vinyl or nylon that won't react with and corrode the copper.
I used Car Wash, purchased from Walmart, to clean the gutters, vinyl siding, heat and air conditioner and the awnings. It cut the dirt quickly and left a nice finish. I really like this product.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I would like to know how to best clean and keep leaves and debris out of the small/narrow gutters that line the patio and carport of a mobile home.
By Maria A.
I own a mobile home with type of gutters you're talking about. Barely large enough to get your hand in. Used a black and decker blower with 230mph speed and blew out leafs and dirt. The blower has 2 speeds and did a great job. I did have to put my hand in the gutter and loosen the mud/dirt. Just get the nozzle over the openings, it won't go in but doesn't have to.
You will need to be on a ladder and wear goggles and a mask to keep dust out of your nose and mouth. You will get very dirty.
When you finish, rinse your gutters by running water in them to make sure everything is clear. I had to take some downspouts(bottoms) off because clogged . Easy to do
This took me about 3 hrs to do about 60ft
This is a page about leaning a ladder against a roof without crushing gutters. When you need to make repairs or clean gutters, your ladder needs to lean on the house often against the gutters.
