Gutter Cleaning

An often overlooked but very important part of home maintenance is keeping gutters and downspouts clean and free of debris.  This is a dirty and potentially dangerous undertaking.  First, we’ll cover the cleaning aspect of this task and then the safety measures that should be taken.
 
Cleaning is a pretty straightforward job.  Get on a ladder and (Wearing gloves) clean out all the slime, muddy mildew, leaves and whatever else you discover in the gutters.  While on the ladder, check all the gutter connectors going into the fascia.  If any of these connecting spikes have worked loose, or the hole in the fascia has rotted out, time to repair/replace.  You want to make sure your gutter is securely fastened to the fascia wherever it is connected.  Check the gutter for any holes or rusted out areas.  Older gutters that rust can be a recurring problem.  You can go to the trouble of chipping, caulking, sanding, priming and painting the rusted sections.  However, odds are that rust will show up in other areas of the older gutters. Best to look into replacing them with more modern gutters of aluminum or vinyl. A gutter must function properly to protect your home.  Gutter, downspout and splash blocks work as a team to keep water away from your home’s foundation. Periodically, check for signs of mold, water damage and mildew.  Look for fascia wood rot and water not draining properly.   Keep your “Gutter team” running as they should.  You can rent a pressure washer to clean gutters.   You should be “OK” if you have made sure that your gutters are 100% correctly and securely attached to the fascia.  Take care not to damage any of the shingles.  The key word here is “Pressure.” Use just enough pressure to do the job.  Now your gutter is clean, your downspouts are running clear and your splash blocks are properly placed and facing away from your home.
 
Safety.  We must always be mindful of safety.  Safety first should always be uppermost in our minds.  Gutter cleaning can be dangerous.  To start, always wear gloves, protective eyewear and wear a pair of good rubber soled shoes.  Gloves will protect from contact with debris in the gutter that could be a carrier of bacteria.  Also, insects could be nesting in your gutters.   The necessity of eyewear is self-explanatory.  Proper footwear is a must when climbing ladders.  Ladder rungs will get wet and slippery, so take necessary precautions.  You want a safe, strong ladder, preferably one with a shelf to hold a bucket to put the gutter debris in.  Make sure you place the ladder at a safe angle in relation to the roof.  Do NOT try to reach too far when cleaning out the gutter to avoid another trip down and up the ladder.  NEVER try to “Hop” the ladder over to the next section to be cleaned.  A very dangerous practice.  If there are electrical lines coming into your home close to where you are working, be doubly careful. 
 
If you plan to tackle this job yourself, please be careful.  However, there is an option out there that will alleviate you of this dirty, dangerous chore.  Let the pros do the work.  They have the latest equipment to do the job quickly, thoroughly and with minimum interference with your daily schedule.  They will clean and inspect your gutters and downspouts and check your roof while up on the ladder.   There are special gutter cleaning tools and accessories the pros use that would be very costly for a homeowner to purchase.
 
A+ Window Cleaning Services can handle all your gutter cleaning needs along with interior and exterior window and glass cleaning, roof cleaning, fence cleaning, soft washing, dryer vent cleaning, hard water stain removal, pressure washing and mold removal to clean your home’s stone surfaces. 
 
Contact A+ Window Cleaning Services at (512) 535-4308.   To view before and after pictures and see videos of A+ Window Cleaning Services, go to the website at   www.apluswcs.com

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