How often do you look at the eavestroughs in your home? If you're like most people, you probably don't think about them very often. It's easy to forget them, since they're high up and designed to be relatively unobtrusive.
Unless you see an obvious or even serious problem, you may assume that your eavestroughs are doing their job. In fact, are you 100% sure that you know what they do and what their benefits are? The answer seems obvious: eavestroughs are used to drain rainwater. But why is this function so important?
Read on to get an overview of the various common problems that can be caused by a rainwater drainage system that has been poorly installed, poorly maintained or not cleaned often enough. You will also discover some tips on how to wash your eavestroughs yourself, as well as examples of situations where professional help would be more appropriate.
Why clean your gutters?
The essential function of eavestroughs is to allow rainwater to drain sufficiently far from your home to protect it from water infiltration and damage. If eavestrough cleaning is neglected, it will lead to premature degradation of your home. It is therefore a maintenance that cannot be ignored.
For the house and its inhabitants
Poor maintenance of eavestroughs can result in obstructions by various types of debris (leaves, conifer needles, samaras, insects, bird's nests, asphalt shingle residue, snow, ice, etc.) When water can no longer flow freely, overflows can lead to water infiltration through the edge of the roof or the tops of windows, unsightly water runoff along walls, water accumulation on the ground and/or damage to the foundation. Such water diversion will cause excess moisture and rot. Thus, the conditions inside your home are related to the operation of your eavestroughs. Be aware that insufficient maintenance could create secondary effects on your health and that of your loved ones, especially in the case of mould.
For the gutters themselves
Debris obstructions also create extra weight on the eavestroughs, causing them to degrade more quickly. For example, they may crack, sag or partially detach. Regular maintenance of eavestroughs will extend their life by solving problems at the first sign of trouble.
For savings
The cost of installing, cleaning, inspecting and repairing eavestroughs can put you off. However, the costs associated with poor maintenance of your rainwater drainage system will be much higher. Consider, for example, what it might cost you to undertake renovations to your home's roof or foundation.
When to clean your gutters?
Routine maintenance
When to clean his gutters? It is important to think about cleaning your eavestroughs regularly, but also at the most appropriate time. For example, it is best to wait until all the leaves have fallen from your trees in late fall before emptying your eavestroughs. One week too early and you'll have to start all over again! If your eavestroughs fill up very often, however, ask a specialist about eavestrough guards.
Cleaning your eavestroughs is important as the cold season approaches, but it could also be beneficial in the spring, depending on your situation. Proper washing of eavestroughs in early spring will ensure that they are not clogged with debris and can drain water properly. If trees drop buds or samaras during the spring, it may be best to wait until the end of the season before proceeding with maintenance.
If annual cleaning of the eavestroughs is essential, two or more washes per year may be necessary depending on the needs of your home. If in doubt, call an expert to evaluate the situation.
In the event of a problem
If you notice any type of damage to your eavestroughs themselves or any abnormality in the way the water flows, you must absolutely clean your eavestroughs thoroughly and try to identify the source of the problem. Ideally, contact specialists, who have an eye for the causes of the first signs of damage in any part of your rainwater drainage system.
Have your gutters cleaned by a professional
Precise damage identification
If no follow-up is done as soon as the first signs of an anomaly appear in connection with the eavestroughs in your home, you could be in for some very unpleasant surprises. Not only are professionals able to identify the real cause of problems, but they also have the tools and know-how to make minor repairs quickly and efficiently. In the event that the repairs are beyond their expertise, they can recommend the best companies to do the work.
Tips
Take advantage of the presence of eavestrough cleaning professionals to receive their valuable suggestions to get the most out of your rainwater drainage system and avoid costly problems in the short and long term. These experts see all kinds of problems every week! They witness the sometimes serious consequences that other homeowners have had to face because they neglected their eavestroughs. They can advise you on the best strategy for taking care of your eavestroughs, whether it's the optimal cleaning frequency for your home or the choice of the most effective eavestrough guards, for example.
Adapted and in-depth cleaning
Specialists have the right, quality equipment to wash all eavestroughs, no matter how high they are located and/or how difficult they are to access. They are able to do the work safely, both for their own well-being and to protect your home and landscaping from damage. They have the expertise and experience to clean your eavestroughs faster and more thoroughly than if you did it yourself.
Peace of mind
Every year, you dread the moment(s) when you will have to clean your eavestroughs in a boring and tiring way? Does the idea of climbing a ladder and working on it make you nervous? Are you worried about making a wrong move and injuring yourself or aggravating chronic pain that is already causing you pain? One call and it's all taken care of! All you have to do is contact a professional to perform this tedious and risky task. This way, you can be sure that your eavestroughs will be clean and clear, and that they will be in good condition to play their role to perfection.
Is it a good idea to clean your eavestroughs yourself?
You may be tempted to clean your gutters yourself. After all, it doesn't seem like a very complicated task. But is it really? Of course, doing the job yourself can save you money in the short term. However, it's important to seriously consider the potential dangers involved and then proceed with caution if you choose to go ahead with the decision.
Security
Cleaning gutters rhymes with working at height. Do you like climbing ladders? Are you in excellent physical condition? Do you have good balance? Be aware that most accidents that occur during this type of work are due to falls. When we are not accustomed to performing a task several metres above the ground, the risk of falling is quite high. Climbing up a ladder for a few minutes to fix a frame to the wall is one thing, but spending hours on a ladder with a bucket, garden hose and various tools is another.
It is also important to know that when you work at a certain height, you have to apply safety measures in order to comply with certain regulations. For example, it is imperative to use stabilisers for the ladder or to ask for assistance from another person. It is also mandatory to wear a safety harness if you work at a height of more than 6 metres. If you do not have the necessary equipment to meet these requirements or if you have the slightest doubt about your ability to climb and move around on a ladder for long periods of time, do not take risks and delegate the job to a professional.
Floor cleaning
If you prefer not to use a ladder, it is possible to wash your eavestroughs from the ground, as long as you have the right equipment. This involves connecting the proper nozzle to your garden hose or pressure washer, then hooking the tip of the nozzle to your eavestrough to clear debris and rinse. The other option is to go to the hardware store to get an accessory specifically designed to connect to your wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Note, however, that these methods will not allow you to notice all the damage in your eavestroughs, which could have serious repercussions later on. Another disadvantage of these techniques is that they tend to blow or splash dirt on the walls of your home or on the windows.
Cleaning by hand
Even if you think you'll be comfortable on a ladder and hand washing seems easy, be aware that there are several equally important steps involved in this task. In addition to removing all waste by hand and with a small shovel designed for this purpose, in a particular order to prevent debris from falling down the drain, you will need to remove the lower part of the downspout. Then, you will continue cleaning the gutters by thoroughly rinsing them with either the garden hose or a small electric pressure washer. During this step, you will have to observe how the water flows down to the ground so that you can detect certain problems in your eavestroughs. When you have finished emptying and rinsing the eavestroughs, you will also have to unclog the downspout, which is often clogged. Sometimes, even if you attempt this operation with a metal rod or a garden hose, stubborn plugs will force you to dismantle the eavestrough. Finally, you will have to run the water again for a final rinse. Once the cleaning of your eavestroughs is completed, you will have to do some housework to get rid of the debris.
Identifying problems
By choosing to clean your eavestroughs yourself, you also take responsibility for identifying anomalies that will sooner or later create damage to your home. This involves, among other things, examining all hooks, fasteners, fittings and connections. You will also have to perform tests, such as blocking the end of the downspout and filling the gutter with water, to notice the presence of leaks along the horizontal gutter. If you feel that the water discharge rate is slow, the downspout may not be inclined at the optimum angle. You will have to adjust it if necessary, bearing in mind that the slope should be about 3 millimetres per metre. You will also have to make sure that there is no undrained water left in the gutter. The most common causes of accumulation are: a slope that is too low, leaks at junctions, an eavestrough detachment or an insufficient number of discharge pipes. If you do not feel confident that you have the heavy responsibility of noticing any problems that could have costly repercussions on your property, call an expert in the field.
Add eavestrough guards
Si des arbres matures surplombent le toit de votre maison, il y a de bonnes chances que vos gouttières soient fréquemment obstruées par des feuilles mortes, des aiguilles de conifère ou d’autres détritus, même si vous les dégagez plusieurs fois par année. Dans ce cas, l’ajout de pare-feuilles pour gouttières serait particulièrement avantageux. Plusieurs types de protège-gouttières sont disponibles sur le marché et il est très important de bien magasiner avant de vous en procurer. Un mauvais choix pourrait vous causer plus de problèmes que d’avantages. L’idéal est de contacter des spécialistes en nettoyage et en entretien de gouttières, afin qu’ils puissent vous recommander le modèle le plus approprié pour votre situation.
In a nutshell
You now have a better understanding of the importance of having your eavestroughs cleaned regularly, as well as having them inspected and repaired as needed. You understand the negative impact that inadequate or insufficient maintenance will have on the rainwater drainage system itself as well as on your home and property. We invite you to contact us so that we can evaluate your home's needs and propose an appropriate maintenance plan. Our specialists have the knowledge, equipment, experience and professionalism required to perform the tedious task of cleaning eavestroughs for you. You will have peace of mind throughout the different seasons! When to clean gutter