Tips for Gutter Cleaning Safety in Pensacola, FL

Gutter cleaning is a crucial aspect of home maintenance. A failure to keep your gutters clean could result in debris piling up inside of them to the point where the gutters become so heavy that they tear away from the fascia. Full gutters are also more likely to cause overflow, which could cause damage to pavement, foundations and landscaping.

Of course, cleaning your gutters often involves getting higher up on a ladder than you might be comfortable with. For this reason, many people choose to hire a professional gutter contractor to take on the job for them. However, if you do wish to tackle your own gutter cleaning, it’s important you do so as safely as possible.

Here are some general guidelines for gutter cleaning safety in Pensacola, FL to keep in mind in order to keep yourself safe when you’re cleaning your home’s gutters.

Know how to safely use a ladder

Always make sure you let others know you’ll be up on a ladder so they know to come check on you. Make sure any ladder you use is sturdy and safe. It’s a good idea to use a four-legged step ladder for a single-story building, and an extension ladder for a two-story building. Wooden ladders and orchard ladders do not provide enough support and are not recommended for use. Make sure all parts of your ladder are properly fastened before you go up.

Know that cleaning gutters can get to be tiring, so if you have hours of work to do, it’s a good idea to take regular breaks, or to space the job out over multiple days so you do not become overly fatigued and more likely to fall.

Bring in the hose

A garden hose is a useful tool to use when cleaning out your gutters. Use a hose that has a pistol-grip spray nozzle, which makes it easier for you to adjust the water pressure using a single hand. Plus, you can easily hang that type of nozzle over the edge of the gutter while you’re moving the ladder. You can find this kind of nozzle at any hardware store.

Use a gutter scoop

Another tool that will be useful to you during the process of cleaning your gutters is a gutter scoop. Scooping out the debris is the best method you have for cleaning your gutters, and you can purchase these plastic scoops at any hardware store. Stay away from metal tools, because you don’t want to accidentally damage the bottom of your gutter.

Protect yourself

At the very least, you should wear hand protection while cleaning out your gutters. You’re going to be dealing with some gross, rotting debris that contains a lot of bacteria, and potentially animal droppings as well. Gloves will protect you from those germs, and will also prevent cuts that could arise if you run into any damaged metal areas. We recommend using gloves made of a thicker suede material for better protection. Eye protection is also a good idea if you’re using a hose, because you can never be certain what might fly out of the gutter while you’re spraying.

For more information about gutter cleaning safety in Pensacola, FL, contact the team at Gutter Master today!

Categorised in: Cleaning Gutters

This post was written by Writer