- Gutter cleaning alternatives are easy ways to keep your gutters clean and extend their lifespan.
- There are many gutter cleaning tools you can get to help with your gutter cleaning.
- Partner with the professionals at Rain Guard in OKC to keep your gutters clean and prevent damage.
Gutters are something that doesn’t get much love. Most people tend to only think about them when it’s raining or storming. Forgetting about them could lead to a plethora of issues and it’s important to keep them clean. There are many gutter cleaning alternatives to keep your gutters clean to prevent damage to your home’s foundation and siding. Professional services from Rain Guard can take the burden off of you but there are some alternatives to go over.
Is Gutter Cleaning Necessary?
You may be asking yourself, is gutter cleaning necessary? Clogged gutters cause overflow that will lead to damage and foundation erosion. It has the potential to flood basements and ruin landscaping. By keeping your gutters clean and protected, you minimize this risk and save you the cost of fixing the potential damage. With that, gutter cleaning is essential to keep things maintained as well as prevent any damage that may occur without it. So let’s go over some gutter cleaning alternatives! After all, would you rather buy something to clean your gutters, or pay to fix a flooded basement or an eroded foundation?
How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned?
Generally, gutters should be cleaned about 2 times a year. This depends on the climate of your home and the weather experienced throughout the year. For most, it would be once in the spring, and once in the fall. If your home is surrounded by trees and wildlife, your gutters may need more frequent cleanings. It is also important to note that after heavy storms and wind, your gutters should be inspected just in case. When you neglect your gutters, the risk of damage increases. The professionals at Rain Guard can help you schedule routine maintenance to help avoid gutter problems.
Gutter Cleaning Alternatives
There are a variety of gutter cleaning alternatives that would work great for your gutters to extend their lifespan. Avoiding damage is key when thinking about gutters. Taking the correct preventative measures will go a long way. Cleaning your gutters will make things easier for you and we will go over some of the best gutter cleaning alternatives together below.
Leaf Blower
The first gutter cleaning alternative we will go over is a leaf blower. Using a leaf blower as a gutter cleaning alternative is great for people who don’t want to get their hands dirty. This option does require you to get on top of the roof so be safe using a ladder. It is easy to use but it may require multiple passes to get your gutters fully clean. A leaf blower is a great gutter cleaning alternative for moderate clogging but may be less effective on wet or compact debris.
Power Washer
The next gutter cleaning alternative to discuss is a power washer. Power washers make for a great gutter cleaning alternative because you can blast away clogs and debris efficiently and effectively. The adjustable spray modes can keep the gutters from getting damaged. A power washer should be used with caution to avoid the water from going underneath roof shingles. This gutter cleaning alternative may be a little more difficult because it requires someone who can handle the power washer as well as a water source. This method can be used on both the roof or the ground so it will be good for people not wanting to climb up a ladder.
Vacuum
Another gutter cleaning alternative to talk about is a vacuum. A vacuum is best suited for dry debris like dry leaves and small sticks. Vacuum attachments can suction debris. This gutter cleaning alternative may not be the best for wet debris or right after it rained, as well as heavy or compact debris. Using a vacuum will be noisy and also needs a power source. Certain vacuums may be better equipped for gutter cleaning, specifically a ShopVac or ones with a curved head to get inside the gutter edges.
Gutter Helmet
The next gutter cleaning alternative is a gutter helmet. Gutter helmets are a good gutter cleaning alternative because they cover your gutters with patented micro mesh to repel debris but also allow water flow. Using a Gutter Helmet is one of the better options for a gutter cleaning alternative because it basically eliminates the need for regular gutter cleaning. It is proven to prevent pollen and other fine debris. Gutter helmets come with clog-free guarantees and long-term durability. This gutter cleaning alternative is one of the best ways to protect your gutters from debris.
Mesh Screens
The last gutter cleaning alternative we can go over is mesh screens. Mesh screens are one of the more cost-effective gutter cleaning alternatives that helps to blog large debris from entering your gutters. Usually the installation of mesh screens is able to be done yourself, but they will require a ladder, and possibly a tutorial as well. This gutter cleaning alternative is one of the best for temporary fixes as well as a budget-friendly solution to keep gutters clean and unclogged. The one downside to mesh screens is that smaller debris can get through and they will require occasional cleaning.
The Best Gutter Cleaning Tools
Along with gutter cleaning alternatives, tools would be a great way to stay on top of gutter maintenance. With some helpful tools, your gutters will thank you and their lifespan will be maximized. The best gutter cleaning tools are a gutter cleaning wand, the gutter tool, and the Gutter Getter.
Gutter Cleaning Wand
The first gutter cleaning tool to talk about is the gutter cleaning wand. A gutter cleaning wand is an extendable wand that attaches to a garden hose to better target water spraying. Some gutter cleaning wands include mirrors or lights for inspections. This gutter cleaning tool allows cleaning from the ground and can effectively dislodge and rinse debris from your gutters. The gutter cleaning wand has an ergonomic design with many spray patterns to perfectly fit and clean your gutters.
Gutter Getter
The last gutter cleaning tool is the Gutter Getter. This is yet another gutter cleaning alternative that does not require climbing on a ladder. It is a tool with a rope operated tong/claw to grab heavy and wet debris. It is designed to handle the wet debris that vacuums can not quite handle. It is light weight and portable as well as it has a simple mechanical operation with no power needed. This is another tool that would be great for people who may want low tech options, and great for during a storm when there may be no power but your gutters are clogged.
Get Gutter Cleaning Alternatives From Rain Guard Inc.
Rain Guard, Inc. has been installing and maintaining gutter systems in Oklahoma since 1982. We provide many gutter related cleaners, protectors, and services so you don’t have to! We stand behind our goal of 100% customer satisfaction with offices conveniently located in Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond. We pride ourselves in our installation methods and using the best materials. All our employees are knowledgeable and are sure to be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have about gutters. We believe that every project we take on must exceed our client’s expectations by being both visually pleasing and functional.
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