Your home’s gutter and downspouts need to be cleaned frequently. It’s not only important for the health of your property, but it can also save you a ton of money in the long run.
You can clean your gutters yourself with a ladder, bucket, a gutter scoop (or garden trowel), and heavy-duty work gloves. It’s also a good idea to get help from another person to hold the ladder steady and turn on the water.
Remove clogged gutters manually
Before you can use a pressure washer to clear a clogged gutter, first you must ensure that the clog isn’t in an underground pipe. If that’s the case, you’ll need to unscrew a section of your gutter system to inspect the pipes inside.
Power washing can be a great way to rid your gutters of accumulated dirt, grime, algae, mold, mildew, and rust. The high temperatures and pressure of the nozzle can dislodge the toughest of obstructions.
If you’re unable to clear the clog on your own, you may need to call in a professional Fairfax, VA power washing services to get your gutters and downspouts back in order. The experts can not only remove clogs, but they can also check your gutters for other potential issues and provide suggestions for preventing future problems.
How to use a power washer for gutter and downspout cleaning
Once you have your gutters clean, you can start using a pressure washer on them. This is a very quick and efficient way to get rid of any buildup of debris, so it’s well worth the investment.
To remove gutter and downspout clogs using a power washer, you’ll need to make sure the hose is positioned so that it’s flushing the whole gutter. If the hose isn’t reaching all of the corners of the gutter, you may need to get a more powerful nozzle.
When using a power washer, don’t forget to rinse the nozzle off when you’re done. This will prevent the nozzle from getting dirty and clogging up with debris.
Don’t use too much pressure when using a power washer on concrete, because it can damage the surface. In addition, it’s not safe to spray a power washer directly onto the roof or siding of your house.
Scoop and drop your clogged gutters
You can also scoop out your clogged gutters by dropping the debris on a plastic tarp or drop cloth lying on the ground below. This is a fast and easy way to remove the bulk of the clogs in your gutters, and you can throw the contents into a compost bin or trash bag when you’re finished.
The tarp will catch the fallen leaves, pine needles, and other debris while you’re on the ladder, and you can move it with you as you scoop out your gutters. This method is very fast and effective, but it’s a little messy when you have a lot of debris.
A leaf blower is also a handy tool to have around. It’s a great way to blast leaves and twigs out of your gutter, but you should always block the downspout with something before you use it.