Gutter Cleaning
Introduction
Gutters play a valuable role in homes as they act as a water discharge system where water channels direct water away from home. Gutter is one of the exteriors home features which should be included in the roofing system to prevent fascia and soffits from rotting, erosion, flooding, and foundation problems, preserve topsoil and prevent other structural problems. Given that gutters funnel water off away from the house, they can begin malfunctioning if they are not cleaned regularly. When materials such as leaves, twigs and other garbage from overhead tress block the gutter, it fails to wok and causes serious damage. Thus, homeowners should clean the gutters often to ensure that there are no leaves, weeds and grass in the gutters. Homeowners need to know that cleaning gutter is part of cleanliness and they have the responsibility in maintaining a quality care to avoid the following common areas of damage as explained by the professionals at United Window Cleaning.
What Damage Can Clogged Gutters Cause
The first common damage is water leaking in the basement and this happens when the water is not flowing properly through the channel. Since the water fails to follow the channels, it falls on the foundation and damages the materials that were used in house construction (Carson & Associates, 2003). As a result, the materials are saturated and finally flooding may occur. Cracked foundations are a serious damage to the structural integrity of the building and this can only be avoided by cleaning gutters regularly. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), mildew and mold like growing on moist areas and the time frame for the growth is 24 to 48hours (FEMA, N.D) Mold produce poisonous substances like toxins that can cause health problems. Also note that the spilling water seeps into window, door and Fascia and when these features contacts with water, they start rotting. Lack of proper drainage causes flooding and this damages lawn and flower beds and spoils the entire landscape. Clogged gutters can shorten the lifespan of the concrete driveways and this happens when water seeps beneath and makes the bedrock to saturate and the concrete to crack (Carson & Associates, 2003).
How Do Gutters Get Dirty?
Gutters get dirt through variety of ways such as leaves that fall from trees surrounding the house. Normally, the leaves fall during late spring and early summer and this will cause gutter blockage. These leaves create birds nesting since birds will use the leaves and foliage to create their small houses (Hough 2013). Dirt is also made by pests such as mosquitoes since they like living in places where water is stagnant. Pests and other creatures create a perfect habitat for living and breeding. The insect pests can cause a serious health issue to both adult and young children. Other substances include airborne dirt, emissions, mold, algae and more which need to be cleaned on regular basis (Hough 2013). .
How to clean and repair gutters
The first technique in cleaning gutters is to pre-clean gutters-climb a ladder, wear gloves and clean off all the stuff. The next step is to check whether the spikes are loose or old in order to replace or install new ones. In addition, it is important to check whether there are leaks and cracks and repair them using bead silicon. On the downspouts, check whether the rivets are loose and install new rivets. After repairing the damaged parts, use a pressure washer to clean the gutter or air pressure and ensure proper flow of the water (The Seattle Times, 2007). While washing the gutter, it is important to follow the instruction. Also consider replacing the gutter if there is rust or apply anti-rust primer. Other thing to consider in cleaning the gutter is the use of recommended cleaning products and methods. For example, scrubbing is a well-known method where the cleaner use hands to scrub and to remove the ‘tiger-stripes and airborne particles. Note that repairing the foundation is a costly process and for this reason, it is important to ensure effective process to clean, maintain and ensure proper functioning (Hester, N.D).
However, homeowners should know that the above method of cleaning and repairing the gutter can be unpleasant since the homeowner should use a ladder and tools to repair the damages areas. Some homeowners even do not have the basic tools to complete the task and for this reason, the easiest way is to hire someone who has tools to perform the work (Vandervort, 2017). Note that there is variety of architectural designs and homeowners who lack specialized skills on cleaning the gutters may not be in a position to perform the best task. Thus, consider hiring professionals who are specialized and who have special equipments as well as experience in this particular field. If the homeowner does not follow the required procedures, there is a high risk or injury. In addition, homeowners must know the ladder safety and failure to adhere to the instruction may lead to serious health risk (Vandervort, 2017).
To avoid this unpleasant task, the best solution is to hire a professional who is a specialist in this particular task. In addition, the professional will clean it faster and effectively. For example, the professional will follow the instruction such as using hand in removing debris and ensure a proper flow of water in the downspouts. In addition, the professional will install the gutter system and ensure it is working correctly (Staff, 2017). Homeowners may also consider creating a contract with the professional and establish a maintenance program where the professional will have a schedule and avoid cleaning the gutter when the problem arises. Almost all homeowners would like to know the cost of gutter cleaning but they should understand that there are some cost factors that determine the price. For example, height is a cost factor and a two or three story building has greater safety risks and two or more professionals will be needed to complete the task- the cost may range from $237-$419. Single story house and two story house of 1500 square feet and 2, 500 square feet will cost $141-$192 and $169- $212 respectfully (Belakovic, 2016). Note that professionals who charge this price are experienced, they ensure a higher level of safety, and they perform the task using proper tools.
In order to maintain and ensure proper functioning, gutters should be washed regularly say; twice or four times per year depending on the location. For example, some areas have many trees that shed leaves then forms clog while others have few. Other thing to consider is that dirt and debris may occur in every season (during winter, summer, autumn and spring) and cleaning regularly or in every season is recommend (Staff, 2017). Although regular cleaning is recommended, the most important time to clean the gutters is during the autumn season. This is because; leaves falls during this period and failure to remove the leaves will clog the gutter. In addition, it is important to remove the debris to prevent the winter showers from causing horrible implications. Other point is that removing debris at this period is a god way of maintenance. It is important to watch the season and maintain the gutters rather than spending money on replacing (Staff, 2017). On the same note, homeowners may lack time to clean the gutter consistently and this raises the need make the professionals useful resources who will perform an excellent job and prevent unexpected damage.
Note: there are people who simplify the process by using gutter cleaning robots. Well, robots make cleaning easy, avoid multiple climbs and minimize risks which might occur by climbing dangerous heights. However, cleaning gutters using robot is not the best way. This is because, robots are experience and this means that homeowners will spend a higher cost in buying and maintenance (Dillet, 2012). Secondly, robot will not scrub every edge and remove all stuff the way human being can do and on top of that, robot will not inspect and repair problems-meaning that a professional will climb the ladder to check the left spots and to check leaks and cracks in order to fix them.
What Are The Benefits of Clean Gutters
The above research has shown that gutters prevent many damages such as basement flooding, foundation cracks, landscape erosion, and concrete cracks, window and doors damage among others. Other important point is that gutters cannot prevent these damages if there are not cleaned regularly (Greene, 2013). Thus, regular cleaning is important to ensure that they are debris free. The first benefit is that a clean gutter will ensure proper water drainage and prevent water damage. Proper flow of water or good drainage is a great benefit since the process will minimize structural damage such as foundation crack and leakage of the roofs. The second benefit is that a clean gutter will last-longer and as a result save a lot of money (Greene, 2013). Note that clean gutters will not crack and the homeowner will not use money for repairing but rather a little money will be spent on maintenance. Note that clogged gutters accumulate organic matters, leaves and other materials which damage not only the gutter but also the house. The homeowner will spend a lot to repair the damages and the regular repair will shorten the life-span. Rather than spending money on repairing regularly and replacing the gutter before the lifespan, it is important to consider spending less on cleaning, since the cost of cleaning is much less than the cost of repairing and replacing (Moor T. & Michael, 2013). Other enormous benefit is that a clean gutter will maintain the structural integrity or in other words, the house will have a higher value compared with clogged gutters. For example, if the houseowner may plan to sell the house, the higher value will attract the customer due to its structure, landscape, value and beauty. Clean gutters are also associated with health benefits in that the family will not suffer from ailments contributed by pests like mosquitoes and organic matters such as mold and mildew. Clean gutter will maximize safety and comfort to the family as there will be no contamination of dirt with water for domestic use or food (Moor T. & Michael, 2013). .
Gutter Maintenance and Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems
Gutter maintenance simply means inspecting gutters (checking problem and fixing them) and cleaning (removing debris). Cleaning and inspecting gutter on regular basis are two important elements which should be considered to ensure that that they are debris free and there is proper drainage (Vandervort, 2017). Fixing gutter problems is one of the maintenance strategies since through fixing problem, gutters will operate in a normal condition and future damages will be prevented. Common problems that need to be inspected and fixed include; clogged gutters- if gutters are not cleaned regularly, debris such as leaves make the gutters to be clogged which may then cause the gutter to sag due to heave weight. To fix this problem, the homeowner may use a ladder, climb and remove the debris and use a hose pipe to wash the gutter ensuring a proper flow of water (Jacques, 2017). Another alternative is hiring a professional who will perform the task with experience. Other problem is gutter sagging-this is a common problem and the main cause is loosening of gutter hangers and brackets. To fix this problem, consider replacing the equipment with new ones. Leaks and holes in the gutter is a common problem caused by rust and debris. This problem can be fixed by using roofing cement and applying gutter sealant. A common mistake occurs during gutter installation when the wrong pitching is done and this hinders effective drainage. If such a problem is noticed, the hunger should be slightly adjusted and the gutter slope should be created for every 10feet to avoid water to stagnate and ensure proper drainage (Jacques, 2017). Other common problem occur in the downspout drainage- this happens during installation when the downspout is located near to the house and this means that the flowing water will come into contact with the foundation. To avoid foundation crack, gutter extension which will direct water in the right place should be installed. Other problem but rarely in many houses is ‘missing gutters’. Some houseowners have not installed gutters and this may contribute to future problem. Thus, homeowners should hire professionals who will install gutters before things get bad (Jacques, 2017).
Gutter Guards – Are They Worth The Investment In 2018?
Gutter guards are not worth the investment in 2018. This is because, even if gutter guard are designed in way that debris will not enter in the gutter, the reality is that small debris will enter and homeowners will be forced to climb the ladder to remove the small gutters and do a thorough cleaning (Wilson, 2016). In fact, this is an unpleasant task since the first thing is to remove the gutter guard, clean it and then remove the debris that has formed in the gutter. Rather than spend money to install a gutter guard and hiring a professional to clean the tiny substances, it is good to make reasonable decisions and pay a professional to clean the gutter regularly. he cost of installing is high and they will not work 100% and on top of that, the heavy weight put on the gutter will make gutters to sag. Gutter guards will allow seeds to enter and as a result, gutter trees will sprout (Wilson, 2016). Note that the gutter guard will also clog up since leave and animals’ feces will fall and these will prevent water to enter in the gutter. Rather than spending money on maintenance, it is better to hire a professional to clean the gutters.
Conclusion
Rain gutters are important as they prevent water damage by ensuring proper water drainage through the water challenges. They prevent many damages which might occur such as foundation cracks and landscape erosions. A point to note is that rain gutters should be cleaned on regular bases to remove the debris such as leaves and organic substances. Failure to clean the gutters will cause devastating effects since water will penetrate in the foundation where it will causes costly problems. Thus, cleaning and inspecting are two elements to include in maintenance and these will ensure that gutter is debris free and it is operating effectively. Note that clean gutters will have a longer-life span and homeowners will save cost. Technology plays an important role in fastening the work and in this case, some people prefer using robot to clean the gutters. However, robot is not effective since they do not clear all debris. Thus, it is important to hire a professional who will do a thorough work. I recommend homeowners to choose ArgoHome gutter cleaning services. Professionals in this company are knowledgeable; they have experience as well the correct equipment to perform a quality work.
References
Carson Dunlop & Associates. (2003). Principles of home inspection: Systems & standards. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Home Inspection Education.
FEMA. (N.D).Dealing With MOLD & MILDEW IN YOUR FLOOD DAMAGED HOME. Retrieved from: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf
Dillet. R. (2012). iRobot Releases New Versions Of Its Vacuuming Robot And Gutter Cleaning Robot. Retrieved from: https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/14/irobot-releases-new-versions-of-its-vacuuming-robot-and-its-gutter-cleaning-robot/
Belakovic. K (2016). How Much Does It Cost to Clean Gutters? Angie list.. Retrieved from: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-clean-gutters.htm
Hough. J.(2013). Understanding Clogged Gutters. The Leaflet. Retrieved from: https://www.leaffilter.com/blog/home-exteriors/roofing-gutters/know-what-youre-dealing-with-clogged-gutters/
The Seattle Times. (2007). A guide to cleaning your gutters — or hiring someone to do the dirty work. The Seattle Times. Retrieved from: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/a-guide-to-cleaning-your-gutters-8212-or-hiring-someone-to-do-the-dirty-work/
Hester. A. (N.D). Why Clean Gutters Matter. Retrieved from: http://www.brightviewcleaning.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Why-Gutter-Cleaning-is-Needed.pdf
Vandervort D. (2017). Rain Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance. HOMETIPE.COM. Retrieved from: https://www.hometips.com/diy-how-to/gutters-cleaning.html
Staff. T. (2017). How to Clean & Repair Your Gutters. Retrieved from: https://blog.takl.com/how-to-clean-repair-your-gutters-92c0d3aa89dd
Greene J. (2013). The Benefits of Clean Gutters. Angies List. Retrieved from: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/benefits-clean-gutters.htm
Moor T. & Michael J. White. (2013). Why Is Gutter Cleaning So Important? Retrieved from: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/why-gutter-cleaning-so-important.htm
Jacques.St. Benjamin.(2017).5 Fast Fixes to Common Gutter Problems. HOUSEtipster. Retrieved from: https://housetipster.com/housetips/interior-design-tips/diy-projects/5-fast-fixes-to-common-gutter-problem
Wilson Cynthis. (2016). Is it worth spending money to install gutter guards if you still have to clean them sometimes? Angies List. Retrieved from: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/cost-gutter-guards-worth-it.htm
