How to Clean & Repair Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters regularly is extremely important in order to prevent costly water damages to your home. If you’ve neglected your gutters for a while, they might have damages and will need to be inspected and repaired.
Here are the tools and steps you’ll need to take in order to have properly maintained, functioning gutters:
Gutter Cleaning Tools:
- Ladder
- Gloves
- Gardening trowel/Scoop
- Garbage bags
- Garden hose
- Rag/towel
Basic Gutter Cleaning Steps:
- Remove any gutter guards.
- Attach garbage bag to your ladder to help collect debris rather than throwing it on the ground (This debris makes great material for a compost pile).
- Start at an end closest to a downspout, and use a trowel to clear gutters of debris.
- Use a garden hose and a rag to spray and clean out gutters.
- Check the flow of water and make sure the downspout is clear of any obstructions.
Gutter Repair Tools/Supplies:
- Putty knife/painter’s tool
- Gutter caulk/roofing cement
- Replacement screw gutter spikes
- Cordless drill
- Plumber’s snake
Gutter Inspection and Repair Steps:
Once the gutters are clean, inspect hangers, gutters, and downspouts for any damages
Check that hangers are securely fastened and have the proper slope to send water to the downspout
- If there are areas where the gutter is sloping, draw a chalk line and remove hangers.
- The lift the gutters and reposition the hangers with gutter screws using a cordless drill.
- There should be hangers every 2’ to support the weight of the gutters.
Once the gutters are secure, check for cracks and leaks
- Make sure to check areas where sections of the gutters connect together, end caps, and where the downspout attaches.
- If leaks are found, clean area — use a putty knife/painter’s tool to remove any old/worn caulk and dirt, dry off area and apply new caulk
Make sure your downspout is attached, connected, and clear of obstructions
- If your downspout is clogged, use a hose with high pressure to try and loosen up debris.
- If you are unable to clear it out that way, use a Plumber’s snake followed by a hose to clear it out.
Check the water flow coming from your downspout to ensure that it is moving away from your home. You may need to add a splash block to keep the water from washing out dirt around your home.
Lacking the proper tools or the time to clean and repair your gutters? Find a Provider on Takl to help you tackle it. Investing in your gutter maintenance now could save you from much more expensive water damage repairs later.
All Takl chores are pre-priced which means that you won’t have to fuss with getting someone to come to your home and give you a quote for their services. Book a chore on demand or schedule it out for a time that works best for you. Best of all, all Takl chores are backed by the Takl Guarantee — if you’re not satisfied with the work completed, we’ll work with you to make it right.
