Is It Safe To Clean Your Own Gutters?

Cleaning your gutters is an important part of maintaining the health and integrity of your home's exterior. While it may be tempting to climb a ladder and do it yourself, gutter cleaning comes with potential risks that need to be weighed carefully. 

In this post, we’ll look at whether or not it’s safe for you to clean your own gutters, as well as provide some tips on how you can safely complete this task if you choose to take it on yourself.

It's Important to Keep Your Gutters Because...

Water from the roof drains into the gutters, which then collect it and carry it away from the house's base via the downspouts. But if there are no gutters to direct the water out, it can pool near the foundation and eventually seep in via the windows or the crawl space basement.

You shouldn't have to do more than clear out your gutters sometimes to keep them functioning properly and protecting your home from water damage. The water from gutters that have overflowed due to blocked downspouts pools above the gutter channel and eventually seeps into the ground. The melting and refreezing that occurs during the winter can make the snow on the roof slide off the roof and then freeze in the gutter. Gutter systems can be dislodged from roofs when the weight of ice accumulates to the point that gutters can no longer hold the roof down.

The Preferred Method for DIY Gutter Cleaning

One great news is that you only need a little technical talent to do it yourself if you wish to clean your gutters. All you need is a ladder, hose, gloves, and preferably, someone to hold the ladder's base while you work.

For a quick refresher on gutter maintenance, here are some tips.

Get The Tools That Will Make Working On This Project Safe And Simple.

A standoff stabiliser is a wise investment if you plan on utilising an extension ladder. Not only will it assist in keeping the ladder steady on an uneven landscape, but it will also shield your gutters from any damage. Of course, it would help if you didn't end up with broken rain gutters that need fixing instead of clean, functioning ones.

If you plan on cleaning up your gutters, you should also provide a place to put the trash and other trash you remove. For example, a tarp can be laid on the floor, and the leaves and other debris can be tossed upon it. In addition, an A-frame ladder has a convenient hook at the very top for suspending a bucket, so you can use it to gather trash before disposing of it.

Remove All The Dirt And Garbage.

After gathering your supplies, you can mount the ladder and clear the gutters with your bare hands. It can be tempting to reach over and collect even more filth, but doing so could result in serious injury. Therefore, you should always use caution when climbing a ladder.

The next step is using your hose to thoroughly clean up your gutters and downspouts. To remove debris from a gutter downspout, use high-pressure water. If there is a leak in the gutters, seal it using the appropriate sealant.

You Should Put Up Gutter Guards.

Even though gutter guards are effective, they may not be able to prevent all debris from entering your gutters. In addition, the labour to set them up will run you between $1000 to $2,000. That's a lot of money, but considering how often you would have to clean your gutters yourself and how much money you could save by installing gutter guards, it could be well worth it.

Gutter guards require occasional cleaning to keep them in good working order but otherwise should have an indefinite lifespan alongside your gutters.

Spend Your Money On A Gutter Vacuum.

If you're afraid of heights but don't want to hire a professional, a gutter vacuum is an option. Cleaning gutters from the ground is possible. However, it won't be as effective as using a ladder and a vacuum.

Gutter cleaning is tedious, but it must be done periodically to keep your home in good condition. In addition, maintaining your gutters will prevent water damage to your home's structure, flower beds, and walls from condensation, mould, and termites. So do yourself and your home a favour by finding the quickest and most convenient method of cleaning your gutters; if you're doing it yourself, hire a professional.

This is Why You Should Never Clean Your Gutters

Is it risky to clear out the gutters? At first, clearing up your gutters may not appear to be a particularly risky task, but once you're up there, you may start to think otherwise. 

The thought of saving money by not employing a service while climbing ladders or reaching down gutters is attractive, but it is advisable to stay cautious. Many things can go wrong if you try to clean your gutters, including getting hurt if you slip and fall.

We'll go through some of the risks you take when you try to do gutter cleaning on your own.

The Dangers Of Slipping And Falling

Just the act of climbing a ladder requires concentration and effort. This is even more dangerous because cleaning the gutters requires reaching over them, which can result in serious injury. While this task may be easy for a professional, it could be quite the challenge for a new homeowner working at heights. As there won't be anyone else to hold the ladder steady, it's possible that it could slip or shake, causing you to fall. When reaching into the gutters, the ladder can move even if you have a helper.

It takes very little tilting to one side to begin losing equilibrium. If you're on a ladder and trying to figure out how to clear your gutters, especially if they're narrow or you have a strange gutter system, you could end up in serious trouble. 

Also, most home gutters are only possible if you climb the roof. Or there's the one gutter in the rear that necessitates a 40-foot-long, 100-pound-heavy ladder that truly needs two or more individuals to set up.

If you decide to clean the roof yourself, you could put yourself in harm's way. Shingles can become extremely slippery from water, ice, or mould, making a slip or error a recipe for a nasty fall. It's not unheard of since over half a million individuals are treated in emergency rooms annually after suffering injuries while using a ladder.

Gutter cleaning is dangerous since it requires you to reach and lean over a tall ladder. For your protection, you should hire a service to handle this.

Pests

Gutters are useful because they divert water from a house, but their arched sides or trenchlike construction also give them a prime location for vermin to nest and mildew to grow. One day, while cleaning your gutters, you could be astonished to see an animal looking back at you from up there. Your gutters could be home to a wide variety of animals, such as:

• Birds: The random debris in a gutter might serve as a sturdy foundation for a nest. If the birds start nesting, they may become overly protective of their young and resort to aggressive behaviour if their territory is invaded.
• Squirrels: If you have many trees in your yard and their branches hang over your roof, squirrels may make a home in your gutters. Squirrels can easily access your gutters via your roof if branches are in the way. Guttering is common for them to get from one tree to another.
• Snakes: The presence of mice and other small rodents in the gutters may attract snakes in search of an easy meal. Snakes can get into the gutters in two ways: either by climbing downspouts or by slithering along branches.
• It is common for larger animals like possums and racoons to get access to your gutters. If possums decide to raise a family in your gutters, they may become very troublesome when the young animals wreak havoc. A possum got stuck in a downspout, and we rescued it!

When inadvertently entering an animal's territory, you know what can happen. The risk of getting bit or contracting an illness increases if you don't have the right gear.

Mould

Mould poses an additional risk to your gutters and must be addressed. Mould can flourish in the damp conditions of your gutters. Cleaning your gutters for yourself could put you at risk of exposure to mould spores in decaying leaf waste. Inhaling these spores can generate different unfavourable health effects, including wheezing, red or irritated eyes, and even more acute reactions for allergies or asthma.

Mould is another explanation for why you should avoid cleaning your gutters. However, the potential benefits are outweighed by the risks to your health. Therefore it's in your best interest to use a provider with experience dealing with the potential hazards.

Diseases

You are putting yourself in danger of various diseases if you don't take precautions and use the right equipment. For example, it was already mentioned that animals might find their way into your gutters and make themselves at home there. These animals poop and urine all over the gutters, spreading disease-causing bacteria and germs. It might be difficult to tell what kind of garbage you're dealing with if you're cleaning out your gutters, and you might be breathing in hazardous bacteria without even realising it.

Cleaning away leaves from a window sill while perched precariously on a ladder isn't the time to be worrying about contracting a contagious illness. However, diseases are another potential danger while cleaning your gutters if you need the right training and safety equipment.

Electrocution

The risk of electrocution increases if you clean the gutters on your own. If you need electricity in your home, power lines must be run to it; however, they may be in the way of your ladder if you plan to climb to the roof. The possibility of electrocution increases if you do this.

Similarly, if you try to clean your gutters, you can accidentally sever some electrical wires. Damage could also result from tampering with the phone or cable lines involved.

If you want to save money and stay healthy, hire a firm familiar with safe gutter cleaning procedures.

Conclusion

Maintaining the health and integrity of your home's exterior includes cleaning the gutters. Self-gutter cleaning is enticing, but the risks involved need to be considered carefully. Here, we'll discuss the hazards of DIY gutter cleaning and offer some suggestions for staying safe if you decide to tackle the job nonetheless. Although necessary from time to time, cleaning the gutters on your property may be a real pain. Water damage to your home's structure, flower beds, and walls from condensation, mould, and termites can be avoided with regular gutter maintenance.

Instead of hiring a professional because of your fear of heights, consider using a gutter vacuum instead. Cleaning your gutters is not a task to be undertaken lightly, as there are several ways in which you could be harmed. Having to bend over a high ladder when cleaning the gutters might be very dangerous. A slip or misstep on shingles that have become slick from water, ice, or mould is a formula for disaster. Mice and other small rodents living in the gutters could lure snakes looking for a quick meal.

Mould is an extra risk that must be handled in regards to your gutters. Mold spores in decomposing leaf matter might be breathed in if you clean your gutters on your own. We freed a possum from a downspout. Wheezing, red or irritated eyes, and even more severe reactions for those with allergies or asthma can be triggered by inhaling spores. Cleaning the gutters without assistance raises the likelihood of electrocution. Hiring a business that knows how to safely clean gutters can save you money and prevent you from becoming sick.

Content Summary

• Maintaining the health and integrity of your home's exterior includes cleaning the gutters.
• Self-gutter cleaning is enticing, but the risks involved need to be considered carefully.
• Gutters gather rainwater as it runs off roofs and direct it away from the foundation of a building via downspouts, therefore they should be maintained.
• However, if there aren't any gutters to divert the water, it can pool near the foundation and leak in via the windows or the crawl space below.
• To maintain your gutters free of debris and able to accomplish their job of preventing water damage to your property, you shouldn't have to do more than clear them out occasionally.
• Overflowed gutter water accumulates above the gutter channel and eventually seeps into the ground when downspouts are clogged.
• Due to the constant thawing and refretting that characterises winter, snow that has settled atop a roof may slide off and become lodged in the gutter.
• When ice builds up and the gutters can't support the roof anymore, the gutter system can be pushed off the roof.
• Fortunately, if you want to clean your gutters yourself, you only need a little technical aptitude to do it.
• You just need a ladder, some hose, some gloves, and ideally, someone to hold the base of the ladder while you work.
• Here are some reminders on how to keep your gutters in good working order.
• If you need to use an extension ladder, purchasing a standoff stabiliser is a smart move.
• It will protect your gutters from harm and help keep the ladder steady on an uneven surface.
• Leaves and other yard waste can be put onto a tarp spread out on the floor, for instance.
• You can also use an A-frame ladder to collect rubbish before throwing it away because it features a handy hook at the very top for suspending a bucket.
• Gather your tools, then climb the ladder to clean the gutters by hand.
• Reaching over to pick up more grime is enticing, but doing so could do great harm.
• As a result, you should never ascend a ladder without taking the necessary precautions.
• Now is the time to get out the garden hose and give the gutters and downspouts a good scrub down.
• High-pressure water can be used to clear out a gutter downspout of any buildup of leaves or other debris.
• If the gutters are leaking, use the proper sealant to fix the problem.
• In other words, you need to instal gutter guards.
• Gutter guards work well, but they might not be able to keep everything out of the gutters.
• In addition, you should expect to spend between $1,000 and $2,000 on labour to have them installed.
• That's a lot of money, but if you consider how often you'd have to clean your gutters without gutter guards and how much you could save by installing them, you might find it worthwhile.
• Although they will need to be cleaned sometimes to continue functioning properly, gutter guards are designed to last as long as your gutters.
• Get yourself a gutter cleaning machine.
• Instead of hiring a professional because of your fear of heights, consider using a gutter vacuum instead.
• Gutter maintenance can be done from the ground level.
• However, this method will not be as efficient as utilising a ladder and a vacuum.
• Although necessary from time to time, cleaning the gutters on your property may be a real pain.
• Water damage to your home's structure, flower beds, and walls from condensation, mould, and termites can be avoided with regular gutter cleaning and repair.
• It's tempting to try to save money by not hiring a service to help you climb ladders and clean out gutters, but you should exercise caution.
• Cleaning your gutters is not a task to be undertaken lightly, as there are several ways in which you could be harmed.
• We'll go over some of the dangers of doing DIY gutter cleaning.
• Climbing a ladder demands focus and determination.
• Since reaching above them is required when cleaning the gutters, this increases the risk of harm.
• Even though this job may be simple for an expert, a new homeowner working at a high level may find it to be quite a difficulty.
• There won't be someone to stabilise the ladder for you, so if it slips or shakes you could end up falling.
• If you have a helper and you try to reach into the gutters, the ladder may shift.
• When you lean too much to one side, you start to lose your balance.
• Clearing your gutters while perched on a ladder presents a significant risk, especially if your gutters are particularly small or you have an unusual gutter system.
• In addition, you'll need to climb up onto the roof to access the gutters on most houses.
• Or there's that one back gutter that requires a 40-foot-long, 100-pound-heavy ladder that really needs two or more people to set up.
• You can be hurt if you try to clean the roof by yourself.
• A slip or misstep on shingles made slick by water, ice, or mould is a formula for disaster.
• Over half a million people visit ERs every year after being injured while on a ladder, so it's not unheard of.
• Having to bend over a high ladder when cleaning the gutters might be very dangerous.
• If you want to be safe, it's best to have an outside service deal with it.
• While gutters are helpful in diverting water away from a building, the arched sides or trenchlike structure make them an ideal place for pests and mildew to thrive.
• Birds: the random gutter debris could provide a solid nesting platform.
• There is a risk that the birds will become territorially hostile if they begin nesting and their young are threatened.
• Squirrels: If your yard has a lot of trees with branches that extend over your roof, squirrels may decide to make your gutters their home.
• If there are branches overhanging your roof, squirrels will use them to gain access to your gutters.
• They frequently use gutters to travel from tree to tree.
• Mice and other tiny rodents living in the gutters may entice snakes looking for a quick meal.
• Snakes can either climb the downspouts or slither along the branches to the gutters.
• Possums and racoons, both huge creatures, have a knack for finding ways into your gutters.
• Possums can be a major nuisance if they build nests in your gutters and raise their young there.
• There was a possum that got caught in a downspout, and we helped it out.
• We all know what might happen if we wander into an animal's area by accident.
• Without proper protection, you're more likely to get bitten or sick.
• Mould is an extra risk that must be handled in regards to your gutters.
• The wet environment of your gutters is a prime breeding ground for mould.
• Mould spores in decomposing leaf matter could be breathed in if you clean your gutters yourself.
• Wheezing, red or itchy eyes, and even more severe reactions for those with allergies or asthma might result from inhaling these spores.
• Mould is one another reason why you should postpone cleaning your gutters.
• Potential advantages, however, are overshadowed by health hazards.
• For this reason, it is in your best interest to employ a service that has prior experience with such risks.
• If you don't employ proper safety measures and gear, you could expose yourself to a number of illnesses.
• For instance, animals can get into your gutters and potentially set up residence there.
• These creatures are spreading disease-causing bacteria and germs by defecating and urinating in the gutters.
• When cleaning out your gutters, it can be hard to identify what kind of trash you're dealing with, and you may unknowingly be inhaling harmful microorganisms.
• Cleaning off a window sill while poised precariously on a ladder is hardly the time to worry about getting a contagious disease.
• However, if you don't have the proper training and safety gear, infections are another risk you face when cleaning your gutters.
• Cleaning the gutters without assistance raises the likelihood of electrocution.
• Wires must be strung from the utility company's substation to your house if you want to use electricity, but they may get in the way if you ever need to use a ladder to get up onto the roof.
• Doing so raises the risk of electrocution and should be avoided.
• Cleaning your gutters, on the other hand, is a surefire way to inadvertently cut some cables.
• Tampering with the cable or phone lines could also cause problems.
• Hiring a business that knows how to safely clean gutters can save you money and prevent you from becoming sick.