Prepare Your Garden for Summer: Gutter Maintenance Checklist
Now that we’re coming out of the wetter and windier months and starting to prepare for summer, it’s the perfect time to get your garden back in working order, starting with the gutters.
The wind and the rain will have played havoc with your gutters, likely blowing in lots of leaves and debris, so they’re well due a clear-out. You could pay a professional to do this, but if you’d rather DIY it, here’s a handy guide that you can use as a checklist to help you get the job done properly yourself.
Gutter maintenance guide
- Set up your ladder
The first thing you’ll need is a safe way to access your gutters. For this you’ll need a good ladder that can give you enough height to work safely.
There are lots of ladders out there that are suitable for gutter cleaning, but you’ll most likely need an extension ladder or combination ladder.
Extension ladders are a great option because they allow you to reach greater heights than standard leaning ladders. In order to use this type of ladder safely, it should extend at least 4 feet beyond your gutters. Remember: you should never work from the top three rungs of a ladder, as this will make it unstable and more likely to tip over.
Combination ladders are equally handy for gutter cleaning. This type of ladder can typically function as either an extension ladder or a step ladder. Using the freestanding step ladder configuration may give you extra stability compared to a traditional leaning ladder.
2. Remove leaves and debris
Wearing a suitable pair of gloves and/or using a scoop or trowel, remove as much dirt, debris and old leaves as you can from the gutters, including the downspouts.
You’ll likely need to descend and reposition the ladder a few times in order to get at every part of the gutter. This may seem time-consuming and fiddly, but it’s very important that you never attempt to overreach when working on a ladder as it can cause you to become unstable, putting you at risk of a nasty fall.
3. Wash away any remaining dirt
Once you’ve removed the leaves and debris from your gutters, you’ll likely find that they’re still quite dirty. Use your garden hose to flush away the leftover sludge along with any stubborn leaves and twigs.
4. Check for standing water
Now that your gutters are nice and clean, hold onto your hose because you still need it for the next couple of steps!
Direct the water towards the top end of your gutters to check that rain is able to flow through them freely. If you notice any buildup of water, you’ll probably need to adjust the angle.
5. Inspect for leaks
With the hose still running, step down from your ladder and walk from one end of the gutters to the other to check for leaks coming from any seams or cracks in the gutters. If you notice any leaks, seek advice from an expert – small issues can be repaired, but in some cases, you may need to replace the gutters entirely.
6. Put away the ladder and admire your hard work!
Pop your ladder away in a cool dry place, making sure there’s no risk of it toppling and causing damage to people or property.
Then, step back and admire your sparkling clean gutters just in time for summer!
