Maintaining gutters is an important part of looking after a home.
Cleaning gutters is part of maintaining them but it’s not the only part.
A good cleaning is a first start to properly maintaining gutters.
Cleaning Gutters
Use heavy work gloves to protect your hands as gutters often have sharp metal points or screws sticking out into the trough. Wear safety glasses or goggle and have a bucket for collecting debris and a tarp or drop cloth for collecting any debris that falls below.
Rake leave and debris off the roof before you start so the next heavy rain doesn’t wash it down into the gutters, filling them up again.
If the debris is dry, you may want to blow it out of gutters using a leaf blower. Make sure you wear a dust mask if you are doing this and be careful on roof tops.
If a leaf-catching gutter system is in place, it won’t catch everything so screens must be removed to clean out what was missed.
Using a garden trowel, scoop out loose debris working away from the downspouts. It’s easier to do 
this with debris that is damp and pliable.
When that is done, use a hose to blast out the gutters using an on/off high pressure nozzle. Work towards the drain system with the hose on each gutter. Then blast the hose down the drainpipe to clear obstructions.
Once everything is cleared, it’s time to inspect the gutters.
Inspecting Gutters
First, check the slope of the gutters. They may need to be adjusted from time to time to keep the water moving toward the downspouts. Do this by running water through them and checking if they drain slowly. If this is happening, reposition the gutters so they slope toward the downspout or drainpipes at a rate of ¼ inch for every 10 feet. You may need help from your local gutter experts Phoenix Siding & Gutters for this task.
Make sure your downspouts expel water well away from your house. Add downspout extenders to carry the water away from the house if needed.
Consider using concrete or plastic splash blocks, which are slightly sloped and extend away from the house at least 4 feet
Next, check downspouts for rust, flaking, or peeling paint and any resulting leaks. Patch leaks and tears and repair any small holes. Make sure the downspouts are tightly fixed to the fascia boards. Then check the fascia boards for dry rot or other damage and replace them if needed with lumber treated with wood preservative that is finished to match the other boards.
Gutters that are regularly cleaned and inspected can give homeowners peace of mind when the rains and storms come.
If you are in need of new gutter installation or gutter repair in Nanaimo and on Vancouver Island
contact Phoenix Siding & Gutters today for a free quote.