Cleaning eavestroughs is one of the least fun tasks associated with homeownership. While cleaning them is not quite interesting, failing to keep your eavestrough clean can cause you lots of problems!
But don’t panic! DFMM Siding Company Toronto will show you tips that will save you time and money!
Why Do I Need To Clean My Eavestroughs?
Eavestroughs are designed to collect rainwater from the roof. After collecting the water, eavestroughs carry it away through downspouts.
Having clogged eavestrough could cause an overflow of water.
Why?
If the water has nowhere to go, it will naturally flip up the eavestrough and overflow onto the foundation of the home!
And guess what?
It won’t stop there. Depending on the amount of water, and the condition of the foundation, water could seep into your basement!
In addition, clogged eavestroughs can also pose a weight strain on your roof and the fascia. If the eavestroughs are too full, they could possibly collapse of the roof.
So, routine cleaning of your eaves can prevent damage to your exterior, roof, and foundation, saving you thousands in repair costs!
How Often Should I Clean My Eavestroughs?
Most professionals recommend that you should clean your eavestroughs two times a year.
Once in the fall and another time in the spring. However, it also depends on the climate that you live in, the number of trees near your home and etc. In this case, you may have to clean your eavestroughs more frequently.
How Do I Clean The Eavestrougs Myself?
You will need a couple of things to clean out your eavestrough, most of which you probably already own.
- Extendable ladder – You’ll need a ladder that allows you to safely and easily reach your eavestrough. In order to avoid damage to your eavestrough, you should ideally use a ladder with standoff stabilizers – also known as ladder “horns”.
- Long-sleeved shirt – Choose an older, long-sleeved shirt that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Rubber gloves – Leaves in your eavestrough have probably been sitting in the gutter for months, so heavy-duty rubber gloves are recommended for the job.
- Bucket or tarp – Have a bucket with you or spread a tarp on the ground below your work area in order to catch the falling debris. You can actually reuse the wet leaves and debris as excellent mulch in your gardens later.
- Gutter scoop – You can buy a gutter scoop from your local hardware store to clean out your eavestrough, or just use a children’s plastic shovel. Either one will work as long as it’s small enough to fit deep into your gutter.
There are a few more things you should consider buying to maintain your gutter as well:
- Gutter spikes – The spikes that run through your eavestrough commonly fall out destabilizing the system. You’ll probably need a few to replace them.
- Bead silicon sealing – Water leaks in your gutter can damage your home. You’ll need to plug them with a sealant.
- Rivets and a rivet gun – The rivets in your downspout may have come loose or fallen out, and need to be replaced.
Cleaning Eavestrough
Now that you have everything you need, the cleaning part is actually fairly simple.
Have a helper with you to stabilize your ladder and pass your equipment as needed.
Start at one end of the eavestrough and scoop everything out into the bucket.
Pay particular attention to the downspout – the part that takes rainwater all the way to the ground.
If this is blocked, even a clean eavestrough can overflow, pouring water over the side, and damaging your house. Make sure that all of the leaves and debris are cleared out of your downspout.
Once you’ve finished cleaning the large chunks of debris from your eavestrough, have your helper pass you a hose and turn the water on.
By running water all the way through your eavestrough, you can remove the tiny pieces left behind. This is also a great way to detect any leaks in the eavestrough, which you should patch up next.
These tips will make the cleaning process a lot easier, and you will be done in less than an hour!
How Much Does It Cost To Have Someone Clean Your Eavestroughs?
If you choose to outsource your eavestrough cleaning to a professional, keep in mind that the national average eavestrough cleaning costs $160, with single-story homes near the low end ($80) and two-story and taller homes on the high end ($340).
There are other factors that could affect the price of professional eavestrough cleaning, outside of the size of the home like the current condition of the eavestroughs, possible repairs or extra maintenance during cleaning and the condition of the downspouts.
There are a few ways you can cut costs on eavestrough cleaning. You can hire professionals during their offseason typically winter, or you might be able to receive a discount by signing up for repeat services.
You’ll also want to shop around to get quotes from multiple professionals in order to find the best deal.
The Benefits of Professional Eavestrough Cleaning
It will save you time. With busy schedules, few homeowners can afford to spend their time cleaning their eavestroughs, especially without the right equipment. Hiring a professional will help you save your time and you will know that the job will be done with proper care.
Another thing is that pros can help with repairs. So, if your eavestroughs need repair, most professionals can take care of minor issues that you won’t be able to do.
Power Washer Eavestrough Cleaning
If a storm hit before you clean your eavestroughs, the leaves will be sticky and wet. If this is the case, leaf blowers are more challenging to work with, so a power washer is the better method.
The secret behind this method is high-pressure. Because of the force behind a high-pressure power washer, it is recommended to use a telescoping wand with a u-shaped attachment at the end in order to clean the eavestroughs from the ground level.
When you are finished cleaning, the waste will litter the ground at the bottom of the downspouts. You can pick this up with gloved hands or sweep it away with a water broom.
Wet or Dry Vacuum Eavestrough Cleaning
If you don’t want to pick up a mess on the ground after cleaning your eavestroughs, you can do it all at once by vacuuming the waste with a wet or dry vacuum.
Get in Touch with Our Team
Contact DFMM Siding today to schedule your complimentary consultation. You’ll see for yourself why we’re considered the premier company for eavestrough installations in the GTA.
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