How to Clean Gutters? Best Tips from Vancouver Gutter Experts

How to Clean Gutters? Best Tips from Vancouver Gutter Experts

How to Clean Your Own Gutters

When it comes to cleaning gutters, we always recommend hiring professional gutter cleaning services in order to avoid injuries and to make sure you get the best quality of work.

If you are not used to working on a ladder, cleaning your own gutters can be a dangerous task. We do understand, however, that many homeowners like to do the home maintenance chores on their own. If you have the necessary tools and often climbs on ladders, DIY gutter cleaning could be an option for you.

To help you get the job done right, our gutter experts put together a quick guide so you can learn the basics of how and why you need to clean your gutters and downspouts.

Why is it important to keep your gutters cleaned?

Rain Gutter Cleaning

Most people don’t understand how gutters work and why they are necessary. The short explanation is that your rain gutters allow water to run off your roof, keeping your home protected from moisture buildup that can cause damage and rot.

Letting your gutter cleaning and maintenance unattainable can lead to costly repairs.

If debris builds up in your gutters, it could lead to sagging and leaky gutters or even worse; It can damage the interior and exterior of your home and its foundation.

A clogged gutter can also create the perfect environment for mold growth, and they can also make nice place for rodents and other pests. So cleaning your gutters properly should be a priority to ensure your gutter system is working efficiently.

Gutter cleaning tools

First thing you should do is to make sure you have all necessary gutter tools and accessories, which includes:

Waterproof Gloves: Under the layer of leaves there is a thick layer of wet stuff and sharp debrisSafety Glasses: Not only safety glasses but appropriate clothing to protect you from debrisLadder: The best way to clean your gutters is by using a ladder, so make sure you have a good and sturdy ladder and follow the best practices of ladder safetyGutter cleaning tool kit: these cleaning kits usually come with a scoop, a rake and other tools you will need when cleaning your own guttersPressure washer: A pressure washer will just help make the gutter cleaning job easier

Related article: Why a Pressure Washer is Essential to Clean your Gutters

5 important steps to follow when cleaning your gutters

Safety first! Use appropriate accessories which includes gloves, glasses and suitable clothing. We recommend placing the ladder on solid, stable and level ground and to use a ladder stabilizer to avoid any damage to your home.We also recommend placing a tarp under your working area to protect the landscape from the debris that fall out. Make sure you have 2 buckets attached to the ladder, one for your tools and a second one to dump the debris as you clean your gutter.To remove the first layer of debris from the gutters, use gloves and the gutter cleaning kit that comes with a rake and a scoop.After removing all the leaves and debris, use a pressure washer to remove residue, mold and grease from your rain gutters.After cleaning your gutters, use a garden hose to flush the gutters and downspouts and clear out any debris. This also helps identify any leaks. Make sure they are working properly and there is not sagging or leaky parts.

Gutter cleaning tips

Here are a few things you should also consider when cleaning your own gutters:

Check the weather forecast before you start cleaning. Allow a few dry days before cleaning your gutters, as removing dry debris makes the job much easier and less messy.Think about safety, most of the cleaning work is on a ladder. If you are not comfortable on ladders, consider hiring professional help.After cleaning your gutters, check the downspouts for any lodged debris.Check if water is flowing through your gutter. Look for any leaks or standing water in the gutter, this indicates that the gutter may need to be repaired.Let someone know you are going to clean your gutters, or even better ask someone to help youNever work in wet, icy or windy conditions.If your home is located near power lines, hire professional help instead

How often should you clean your gutters?

We recommend cleaning your gutters twice a year.

Ideally you will want to clean your gutters in the late fall to clear out leaves and to get them ready for the rainy season in metro Vancouver. And once again, at the beginning of spring so your gutters are ready to handle heavier spring rains.

If you have trees around your home, your gutters may need to be cleaned more than twice a year.

Why you should hire professional help to get your rain gutters cleaned

gutter cleaning professional help

If you consider the time, risk and quality of the job, hiring a professional gutter cleaning service in Vancouver is always worth the money.

If you don’t have much experience climbing and working on a ladder, cleaning your own gutter might be quite challenging. Gutter cleaning professionals are usually insured for any injures and they have the right safety equipment to get the job done.

A gutter expert will do the job thoroughly and they are also able to identify potential issues with gutter and downspouts and recommend gutter repairs or even a new gutter system

Gutter Cleaning Cost

The cost of gutter cleaning will depend on the size of your home and the condition of your gutters. Your gutter cleaning company will ask about the height of your house, size of the gutters and their overall condition.

If there is a significant amount of debris and dirt, the job will likely take longer, and the cleaning costs will reflect that.

Contact us today to get a free gutter cleaning estimate.

Let the professionals at Weatherguard Gutters take care of your gutters for you and avoid the dangers of trying to clean your gutters on your own.

 

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How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months

How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months

Prevention is the key to the problem of frozen gutters. It is much harder to thaw them out than it is to just keep everything flowing all along. If you are a Langley resident, you know how rainy and colder months in British Columbia can affect your rain gutters. In order to avoid having to repair or install a new gutter system, here are some expert tips to keep your gutters from freezing during Langley’s coldest months:

Check Your Rain Gutter Slope

When properly installed, gutters have a slight slope leading to the downspout. This ensures that water quickly moves out of the system. However, you shouldn’t assume that your gutters have the right slope, even if they did when they were first put on the house. They can settle with age, be knocked to the wrong angle by storms, or even suffer from improper installation. If the result of any of these things has caused your gutters to become flat, water will be able to pool within them and freeze.

The easiest way to find out if your gutters have the right slope is to have them inspected by a professional help for gutter repair and maintenance. If you already know that the slope is wrong, you can skip the inspection step and proceed directly to getting gutter repair in Langley. The repair crew will refasten the gutters so that they have the proper angle for good drainage.

Keep the Gutters Clean

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Leaves, twigs, and other debris will eventually form dams if allowed to remain in the gutters. This allows water to pool and freeze. Have your gutters cleaned out every fall to prevent this problem.

Check our previous blog post and learn how to unclog a clogged gutter.

Take the Snow off of Your Roof

An abundance of snow on the roof, especially after a blizzard, can overwhelm your anti-freezing measures. In blizzard conditions, the gutters themselves can be filled with snow long before any salt could melt it. Then, you need to manually remove the snow before it partially melts and refreezes into ice. A roof rake makes it possible to do this job from the side of the house, instead of walking around on the roof. Other tools work well for clearing the gutters.

dd Insulation to the Roof

Insufficient roof insulation allows heat to leave the house and melt the snow that’s on top of it. This allows liquid water to flow into the gutters even on freezing cold days. Since the gutters aren’t exposed to the house’s heat like the rest of the roof, the water then freezes.

If you add enough insulation to stop the snow on the roof from melting on cold days, you will end the biggest winter source of liquid water. A bit may still melt and get into the gutter system, but it won’t be nearly as much as comes from a poorly-insulated roof. Then, most of the water will enter the system on days where the overall weather is above freezing. This ensures that it will remain liquid as it traverses the gutters.

Use a Heated Gutter Cable

The direct application of heat is a time-honored way of preventing and getting rid of ice, but you’ll need a special system to do it in your gutters. Gutter cables are meant to handle exposure to water, cold, and sunlight. If you don’t want to have to go up to your gutters after every snowstorm, or to keep putting rock salt in them, give these cables a try.

Like any other product, some cables are better than others. Be sure to read the reviews on big online retailers before choosing a brand. Even if you buy from some other site or a physical store, a good set of reviews can point you in the right direction. You can also find out prices this way, so you can better decide whether or not you want to pursue this option.

Does Rock Salt help?

Salt is quite corrosive to certain metals, especially steel. Make sure that your gutters will not have an overly-negative reaction to either salt or salt water before using this method. The same kind of salt that prevents and removes ice from your driveway can work in gutters, but it can also damage your gutters, corrode concrete and impact your landscape. We would recommend using other solutions.

Why Bother to Prevent Gutter Freezing?

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When gutters freeze up, they can cause many problems. The biggest danger is to your roof. Frozen gutters do not allow water to easily leave the edge of the roof, and this causes it to pool and freeze right there. That, in turn, creates ice dams. The water trying to come down the roof behind an ice dam cannot get to the ground, and instead backs up under the shingles. Eventually, this results in roof leaks.

The weight of frozen water in the gutter system can also be a problem. It can cause the gutters to pull away from the house, damaging the connecting points on both the gutters and the house itself.

Make sure you add gutters to your home maintenance and winter plumbing checklist to avoid gutter issues during the colder months in Langley.

Contact Professional Help

If you need professional help to get your gutters at the proper slope, have heated cables installed, or to take any other anti-freezing measures, contact our gutter company located in Langley for assistance. Here at Weatherguard Gutters, we are standing ready to help you do everything possible to protect your gutter system.

Weatherguard Gutters provides gutter repair service, new gutter installation, and maintenance services. Our crews use safe practices, including the use of manlifts, so you don’t have to worry about our people slipping off of ladders or having other accidents. We also offer the best warranty on parts and labor in the area, deliver fair pricing, and promise quick turnaround on your job.

If you’re in Langley, or anywhere in the metro Vancouver area, contact us at Weatherguard Gutters today. We’ll make sure that your gutters stay free of ice this year and in the years to come.

The post How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Langley’s Colder Winter Months appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.

When Should Surrey Residents Install a New Gutter System?

When Should Surrey Residents Install a New Gutter System?

Whether your house in Surrey has an aging gutter system or none at all, you may be wondering if it’s time to have a new gutter system installed. There are several situations where rain gutter installation, rather than repair or just not having any, is the best course of action.

If You Don’t Have any Gutters

When you buy a house that isn’t brand new, you may find that it doesn’t have any gutters on it. In that case, you’re probably wondering if you should bother having some installed. The answer is yes. Gutters protect your foundation from being inundated with water, either during rains or as the snow melts in the spring. This helps your foundation last longer.

If you just moved to Surrey or other parts of Metro Vancouver you know the west coast gets a substantial amount of rain and as a homeowner checking that your house ability to deal with rain and wind storm is crucial to preventing costly damage.

raingutter-surrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check our previous post to learn how gutters work and why they are necessary.

If you add gutters to a formerly gutterless house, you’ll also enjoy the fact that this keeps roof water from forming a groove in the lawn at the roof line. You’ll be able to plant flowers or shrubs there, when before, plants would have been drowned out or beaten down.

If Your Current Gutters are Heavily Damaged

While some gutter damage can be repaired, it often isn’t worth it if there are a multitude of leaks and other problems. A single repair is inexpensive, but if you need several, the costs add up. It is also likely that even more damage will reveal itself soon. In these cases, it’s physically better, and usually no more expensive, to get an entire new system.

Mechanical damage to gutters often arises from storms, which can blow them down or blow trees into them. This bends the gutters, can split them at the seams, or even punch holes through the material. Since insurance will often pay for gutter replacement in these cases, there’s no need to attempt a patchwork of fixes.

If Your Existing Gutters are Corroded

corroded gutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When corrosion first starts, you may find that the joints are leaking. These can often be fixed at first, but corrosion eventually spreads to the entire gutter system. Then, you can end up with leaks all along it. Even worse, the parts that aren’t leaking are still corroding, so they’re likely to start leaking soon. That’s when it’s a good idea to stop trying to keep your old system going. It’s time to retire it, and get new gutter installation Surrey.

If ignored long enough, corroded gutters will become very fragile and can even fall apart in your hand. This condition is most common in houses that haven’t been lived in for a long time, or whose owners have been unable to replace the gutters sooner for some reason. By that point, there is no possible repair, and it’s beyond time to get new ones.

What is the Most Common Reason Gutters Fail?

Due to their relatively protected location up at the roof line, most gutters do not suffer sudden damage. Instead, they fail due to age. As time goes on, plasticized parts get brittle and metal ones corrode. At first, this type of damage can be repaired. Seamless gutter repair can even stop a multitude of leaks, and make it harder for new ones to form. Even with this, however, the time will come that there just isn’t enough of the original substance left to fix it anymore.

Because of this, gutters are typically quite old when they need to be replaced. Many make it for several decades. However, the time will eventually come, and when it does, it’s important to get a new system in place so that your foundation continued to be protected. In some cases, new gutters will also protect your walls from discoloration.

Other Reasons to Get New Gutters

Extensive storm damage is another reason you might need new gutters. In many cases, you won’t have to replace them after a storm – just reattach the existing ones to the house. However, if a tree has come through a big portion of gutter, it may have made holes or completely mangled the material. Then, your best bet is to put new sections on the affected side(s) of the house.

You also may decide to get new rain gutter installation if your existing system has been problematic for years. In that case, it’s time to get off of the repair merry-go-round and take care of the problem for good. Replace your inferior system with one that will not only hold water, but will keep doing so for many years to come. In this case, the benefit is that you won’t have to fuss with your gutters every year until the end of time, and can then use your time and energy on better things.

Finally, some people get gutter replacement mainly for appearance’s sake. An old, dented, rusty gutter system will detract from the appeal and value of your house, even if it is perfectly functional from a practical perspective. If your gutters are in this condition, getting new ones is a great way to freshen up the looks of your home and increase its curb appeal.

Final thoughts about Gutter Installation and Maintenance

When it comes to caring for your house in Surrey, make sure you add gutters to your annual home maintenance checklist This will help you be pro-active and avoid gutter issues during the rainy season and winter months in British Columbia, when you most need them.

When it’s time to get new gutters for any reason, call us at Weatherguard Gutters. Our gutter experts operate with full fall protection safety, uses man lifts to safely reach high positions, and our gutter installers are even trained in first aid. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about accidents or liability when you bring in our crew to do the work.

We also don’t have problems with unique gutter architecture or calls for less-common materials. We can make continuous gutters, create systems from copper or zinc, or provide replacement parts for smaller areas of damage. We also provide soffits, leaf protection systems, downpipes, and even siding upon request.

If you’re in the area of Surrey or other parts of metro Vancouver, contact Weatherguard Gutters today. Soon, you’ll have gutters that look great and work perfectly. You’ll love not having to fuss with any more repairs!

 

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Why are My Gutters Leaking?

Why are My Gutters Leaking?

Leaking gutters are some of the most obvious signs that it’s time for a gutter repair, but just what causes them? While some of the reasons are obvious, at least one is fairly easy to miss. Here is what to look for if you have a dripping gutter:

ge of the Gutters

Like many parts of the house, gutters get weakened and worn out with age. Old gutters have been through many seasons, had exposure to corrosive elements, and may even have been banged into by tree limbs. These things add up to weaken the material the gutters are made from, and eventually, small holes or even tears develop. Leaks will occur through each new opening. Eventually, there can be so many of these unwanted openings that the gutter system is more like a roofline sprinkler than a gutter.

Loose Gutters

Storms, abuse, and the effects of time can all cause your gutters to get pulled slightly away from your house. When this happens, it often appears that you have leaks, but in reality, the water is escaping before it even gets into the gutter system. It’s coming through the gap between the roof and the gutters, so the fix for this is to reattach them so they are tight to the roofline once again.

Clogs

When your gutters get clogged, water backs up within them and then rises. Once the water line is above the top of the gutters, it spills over the side. As with loose gutters, the problem isn’t really that you have a leak. In this case, the capacity of the system is simply being exceeded by the volume of the water. Clearing your gutter clogs will fix the problem. Typically, you can spot where the clog is by looking for the place where the dripping stops, but if the downspout is what is blocked, it will drip over the entire length of the gutters overhead.

Gaps Between Sections

If your gutter system is made in sections, then each piece has to be securely attached to the next one(s) in order for everything to work properly. Through time or direct damage, these sections can come apart slightly, causing leaks. Proper reassembly of the gutters will take care of the problem, but it’s important to be sure to use methods that will resist the forces that made them come apart in the first place.

Improper Gutter Slope

This is one of the hardest issues for a homeowner to see, so if you find yourself wondering “why do my gutters drip,” there is a high chance that this is the reason. Sagging gutters, improper initial installation, and more can cause the “grade” of the gutters to go away from the downspout instead of toward it. Then, the gutters fill with water and overflow, much like if they were clogged. They will need to be put back on with the proper slope in order to fix this.

Determining What’s Causing your Gutter to Leak

Often, you can see what is causing a dripping gutter just by looking. This is especially true if there is corrosion, either at random places or at the joints between the gutter sections. If nothing like this is visible, wait for a rainy day and then go out and watch the leak pattern. You can usually see if the water is coming over the sides, down between the roof edge and the gutter, or through the bottom of the troughs.

While you’re out there, check the downspout – if nothing’s coming out and no water is coming through the trough of the gutter itself either, it’s probably clogged. If the system is old or there has been a big storm, it is also possible that there is more than one problem that needs to be attended to.

How to Fix Leaking Gutters

While the principle of how to fix leaking gutters isn’t that hard, this is a dangerous job. You not only have to get up on a tall ladder, but have to wrestle with long, unwieldy pieces of material that will want to awkwardly fall down as soon as they are released from their fasteners. Therefore, it’s best to hire professionals to do the work.

Once the cause of the problem has been determined, the right course of action can be decided on. If the gutters are just clogged, then it just takes cleaning to restore proper operation. However, if corrosion is present, other steps must be taken.

When only a small part of a gutter is corroded, such as the space between joints, a patch or caulk can usually be applied to stop the leak. Alternatively, a company may use a seamless gutter insert to restore a solid surface to a large area – sometimes, the entire system. These rely on the strength of the original gutters to hold them up, so the originals do have to have enough material left to serve that purpose.

If a section of the gutter system is too corroded to hold a liner or a patch, then it must be replaced. In many cases, part of the system will reach this state before the rest, so it can be worthwhile to do this instead of replacing the entire thing. However, the time does come when a system will finally be old enough for full replacement. Fortunately, this is not a sudden process, so it doesn’t have to make a surprise hit to the budget.

Correcting sagging gutters basically involves reinstalling them the right way. New hangers are typically used, since one of the causes of sagging is the failure of the old ones.

If you need leaking gutter repair in Metro Vancouver or the Lower Mainland, or you have a dripping gutter and can’t figure out why, contact us at Weatherguard Gutters today. We’ll be glad to come out, assess the situation, and give you a quote on gutter leak repair or replacement.

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How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary?

How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary?

The vast majority of houses have rain gutters, but many people don’t think too much about them. Because of this lack of attention, it’s easy to mistakenly ignore them if they become clogged or damaged. Some even think it’s a fine idea to just pull them down and be done with them. Is this really a good way to deal with gutters? Read on to learn how rain gutters work and why they are necessary.

Why Are Rain Gutters Necessary?

When it rains, every 100 square feet of your roof accumulates and drains 60 gallons of water per inch of precipitation. Many roofs are about 2,300 square feet. That means they will be shunting off 1,380 gallons of water for every inch that falls on them.

Without gutters, those 1,380 gallons of water drop straight off of the leading edges of the roof and go into the ground at or very close to your house’s foundation. This interferes with the ground’s ability to support the foundation, and in turn, that can lead to shifting, cracking of the foundation, and foundation undermining. It can also cause cracks in basement walls and damage to your house.

Foundation damage is extremely expensive to repair. It typically requires lifting the house on jacks, doing the work necessary to fix the problem, and then carefully setting the house back down. This lifting can cause other latent structural problems to appear, especially in the walls of the house. Unfortunately, ignoring foundation damage only lets it get worse, so if the house is to be kept indefinitely, repair must be done when damage occurs.

Damage to basement walls not only weakens the structure of the house, but allows leaks. When a basement leaks, mold soon finds the wet materials perfect for incubation. Then, you end up with a mold problem as well as a water issue. Even worse, water that leaks in typically does not go away nearly as fast as it came. This allows the mold to keep growing even when it is dry outside.

How do Gutters Work?

Gutters are placed at the leading edges of the roof. There, they collect the torrents of water that come from the roof during rainstorms, and direct them to a safe area for discharge via downspouts. In many cases, this area is simply far enough away from the house to avoid foundation damage. However, many people now have their downspouts aimed into rain barrels or into hoses for distribution to their gardens. Rain barrels allow the water to be saved for drier days.

As you can see, how gutters work is simple. Even so, they are very important for protecting your house from damage.

The Importance of Maintaining Your Rain Gutter

Maintaining your rain gutter is essential for preventing a wide variety of problems, not all of which are at ground level. A cracked or rusted rain gutter will drip down from any gaps, and if it is close enough to your wall, this will leave ugly stains all down the side of the house. If its fasteners are in a similar state, it can fall down suddenly as well, potentially injuring anyone or anything that is beneath it.

Clogged gutters pose even more problems. The rainwater can’t get out properly, so these gutters fill up with water. Some will spill over the side, but there’ll still be a full gutter below the water line. That puts weight into the system that the gutter’s fasteners were never meant to hold, so they may fail and let the gutter fall down without warning. Alternatively, one or two fasteners will fail, leaving the damaged gutter hanging askew.

If gutters are left clogged long enough, the fallen leaves causing the blockage will rot and turn to humus. This doesn’t clear the clog, but it does provide the perfect environment to germinate the seeds and fern spores that have landed in there. Wild plants growing from the gutters may not look all that bad, but they gain a huge amount of weight as they grow. A full-grown tree weighs many tons, so you can see that a sapling will quickly end up weighing enough to tear a gutter off of a house. If there are multiple plants growing up there, it will take even less time for their growth to add up to a catastrophic amount of weight.

The Right Time to Get a New Gutter System

Like any man-made thing that is constantly exposed to the weather, gutters eventually wear out to the point that replacement is in order. Look for large numbers of leaks, widespread corrosion (including in the fasteners), and similar problems. Also check to be sure that your downspouts go at least 10 feet from your house.

If your gutters are in an overall poor condition due these problems, it’s time to go ahead and replace your gutter system. The exception is the downspouts, which can be replaced separately from the rest of the system.

When Are Gutters Not Necessary?

While some say that every house needs gutters, there is one situation where many say that they’re not absolutely necessary. That is when the house is built on piers. A “pier foundation,” as it is sometimes called, elevates the house off of the ground and uses relatively thin, deep posts to give it stability. This foundation system is often found in mobile and manufactured homes as well as old site-built ones. Houses in flood zones may also use piers, regardless of whether they are manufactured or site-built.

Even with a pier foundation, you may find that it’s a good idea to have gutters. This is because some soils are prone to shifting if they get too wet, and this can cause the piers to move. If you have this type of soil, the answer to “are gutters necessary” is yes.

To get an estimate for gutter maintenance, repair, or replacement, contact us here at Weatherguard Gutters. We’ll be glad to help you keep your house safe.

The post How do Gutters Work and Why are They Necessary? appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.

Why a Pressure Washer is Essential To Clean Your Gutters

Why a Pressure Washer is Essential To Clean Your Gutters

The gutters on your home can be difficult to clean, especially when you don’t have the tools you need to clean them correctly. It’s hard to reach your gutters and soffits with just a ladder and hose, which is why pressure washers are used by professionals to get your gutters cleaned or by using a professional gutter cleaning service is recommended.

A pressure washer can help eliminate chemical residue, mold, grease and any other contaminants from your rain gutters.

To protect your home and surrounding foliage, there are a number of steps to take when you are going to pressure wash your gutters on your own.

Protect Your Foliage

When you are going to use soap to clean your gutters and soffits, you will want to use the low-pressure nozzle and give your gutters, soffits and surrounding foliage a good soak. This will rinse off a good amount of debris and give your soap a chance to work.

After cleaning your gutters, rinse your foliage once again to get rid of any soap residue.

fter the First Rinse

pressure washer gutter cleaning

Use detergent to get the dirt and grime off your soffits and gutters. Pay attention to the detergent you are using and dilute the detergent as directed.

Cover your soffits and gutters with detergent and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Pay attention to avoid getting water into your soffits, as this can lead to mold and mildew growth.

Remove the Dirt and Detergent

Once the detergent has broken up the dirt and loosened it, use the high-pressure nozzle and rinse your soffits and gutters thoroughly.

Make sure the detergent nozzle is off so that you don’t add more detergent to your home while trying to rinse it off. You will want to use the low-pressure rinse one more time on your home and foliage after rinsing off the detergent to get any remaining particles.

Use a Gutter Cleaning Attachment

weatherguard wash wand
You don’t have to get up on a ladder with a pressure washer to clean your gutters. You can use a gutter cleaning attachment instead, which is a much safer way to clean your gutters.

When you don’t have the equipment you need, it can be easier to have a professional come and clean your gutters instead.

If you need to have your gutters cleaned, contact us today at Weatherguard Gutters to get a free estimate. We have been serving homes in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for more than 25 years, and we are ready to help you with all your gutter needs.

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Top 5 Common Dangers When It Comes To Gutter Cleaning At Home

Top 5 Common Dangers When It Comes To Gutter Cleaning At Home

The gutters on your home need to be cleaned when they become full of debris in order to protect your home correctly. Unfortunately, there several common dangers when it comes to trying to clean your gutters on your own. Most homeowners don’t spend much time on a ladder, and this is the top danger of gutter cleaning when it is done by amateurs. Get the help you need this season to have clean gutters and avoid getting injured in the process.

The Ladder is Unstable

If the ground is uneven, it can be very difficult to get the ladder positioned safely for a person to climb up it. In addition, the ladder could be bumping up against the roof or gutters, causing damage to the surface. Problems with placing the ladder in the right position are common and cause accidents often.

The Ladder Isn’t Maintained

Homeowners that only use a ladder once in a great while aren’t going to notice if the ladder needs maintenance. Ladders that are not taken care of can easily break or cause a hazard for the one using it.

Watch Out for Electrical Wires

Electrical wires can be a big hazard for those trying to clean gutters. Coming in contact with electrical wires can be deadly. Whether the ladder is accidentally placed on a wire, or the wires are grabbed while stumbling, electrical wires are dangerous when trying to clean gutters.

Wearing the Wrong Clothing

An amateur isn’t going to think much about the clothing they are wearing while climbing up the ladder to clean gutters. Small projections on the ladder can cause clothing to get stuck, causing an unstable or dangerous situation for the person climbing.

Problems with Vertigo or Dizziness

It’s not the best time to learn you are afraid of heights or you have vertigo when you are on the top of a ladder trying to clean your gutters. You may discover that you are too nervous to do the work, or you are so dizzy that it causes you to lose your balance.

As you get older, it can become even more difficult to clean your gutters, leaving you at risk for a fall. Avoid getting injured while cleaning your gutters because of:

Issues with your own mobility.Lack of experience climbing a ladder.Fear of heights or vertigo.Uneven ground and a poorly maintained ladder.

Let the professionals at Weatherguard Gutters take care of your gutters for you and avoid the dangers of trying to clean your gutters on your own. Weatherguard Gutters has been helping homeowners in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for over 25 years keep their gutter systems clean. Contact us today to get a free estimate.

The post Top 5 Common Dangers When It Comes To Gutter Cleaning At Home appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.

How to Unclog a Clogged Gutter

How to Unclog a Clogged Gutter

The gutters on your home protect your property from water damage when it rains. Water comes off of your roof, into your gutters, and is guided away from your home. When your gutters become clogged, your gutters can’t do their job. You will risk water damage to your home and a potential basement flood if your gutters aren’t working correctly.

Keep Your Gutters Clean

To avoid gutter clogs, you will either need to clean them yourself, or hire a gutter repair professional to do it for you. Gutters should be cleaned twice a year to prevent clogs and buildup. If you have trees close to your gutters, you may need to clear your gutters even more frequently.

To Clean Your Gutters

A leaf blower is a great tool when you want to clean your gutters. If you are able to safely climb a ladder to your gutter system, use a leaf blower to blow the debris along your gutter. Protect yourself by wearing goggles and a dust mask, as leaf blowing can cause serious dust to fly. You can also use heavy work gloves and a small shovel to muck out leaves from your gutters.

Use a High Pressure Hose

Once you clean out the leaves and debris that are in your gutters, use a high pressure washer or the high pressure nozzle on your hose to clean out the rest of the gutter. Start at the opposite end of the drain, and work your way down to the drain to clean the gutter.

Check the Drainpipes

The drainpipes also need to be cleaned when you are cleaning your gutters. Make sure there are no clogs in your downspouts, as this will cause problems with your gutters. Remove the downspout if possible, and clean it out using a high pressure nozzle. Once you clean the downspout, reattach it to your gutter system.

Contact Weatherguard Gutters Today!

If you are nervous about cleaning your gutters or you are not able to get to gutters that are too high, professional help is necessary. At Weatherguard Gutters, we have been helping homeowners in Vancouver and the surrounding area for more than 25 years keep their homes protected with a good gutter system and maintenance. If you need help cleaning your gutters, it’s time to contact us today.

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Using Your Gutters for Rainwater Collection

Using Your Gutters for Rainwater Collection

When you have a good gutter system on your home, you can do more than simply move the rain away from your home. You can use your gutter system to collect rainwater and have usable water for a variety of activities around the home. When water is in high demand, you can harvest this natural resource using your gutters.

Set Up Near Where Water Is Needed

Your first step is to decide where you are going to use water, and set up a collection barrel near this area. If you want to use collected rainwater to irrigate your garden, the collection barrel should be in the downspout closest to your garden. Consider what type of barrel you want to use, and choose one that is the right size for the amount of water you want. While whiskey barrels are great, so are plastic trash containers and other types of collection devices.

Know How Much Water is Coming

When it comes to collecting rainwater, you have to be prepared for any overflow. You will want to know the square area of your roof to be able to determine how much water you can expect. For every 100 square feet of space, you can expect 60 gallons of water for every inch of rain. When your barrel begins to overflow, you will need to make sure water flows away to protect your home.

How to Use Collected Rainwater

Once you collect your rainwater, it can be used in a number of ways. The water you have collected has not been properly treated and you or your pets should not drink it. In addition, any water collected should be used within a week or two to avoid algae growth. You can use it to irrigate your lawn or garden, but be sure to wash any vegetables you have grown before you eat them. You can use the water to wash clothes, water indoor plants, and cleaning your home.

s Winter Approaches

With freezing weather coming, you aren’t going to be able to collect rainwater. Remove the barrel over the winter months, and reattach the rest of the downspout on your gutter system. Clean out your water barrel so that it is ready for the next season. Make sure that any water that flows over the next few months will be guided away from your home.

Contact Weatherguard Gutters for Gutter Maintenance Services Today!

At Weatherguard Gutters, we are ready to help you keep your gutter system working great. If you want to figure out how to collect rainwater this season but aren’t sure what to do, contact us today. We have been helping homeowners in Vancouver and the surrounding area for more than 25 years better manage the gutter system on their home and we are happy to provide you with a free estimate.

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Climate Change and Problems with Your Gutters

gutters

Climate change is causing an impact on our environment in a variety of ways. The water cycle is impacted, and this means more fluctuations between significant droughts and times of heavy rain. Average temperature rates are climbing, and this is causing changes to weather patterns. With the water vapor concentrations and flow patterns affected, this is causing downpours that are fast and furious.

Changes in Weather Patterns Means Worsening Storms

As climate change continues, extremes in weather are only expected to get worse. This results in storms that cause heavy saturation, flooding, and damage to your property. When your home has gutters, they may not be large enough to handle a downpour. It may be time to consider updated your gutters so that your home is protected from heavy rains causing your current gutters to overflow.

Gutter Maintenance and Heavy Storms

When a heavy storm brings tons of rain to your area, clogged gutters are going to be a problem. When the rain is heavy enough, this can cause damage to your gutters and lead to a mess of water in your basement. If your gutters are clogged, it’s time to have your gutters cleaned before the next storm. You should have your gutters cleaned twice a year to avoid damage to your property.

Watch for Gutter Functionality

During a heavy downpour is the best time to see how well your gutters are working. As the rain is pouring down, it becomes possible to see where your gutters are leaking and if you have water flowing over the sides. Your downspout might be clogged, or your gutters could be at the wrong angle to move water from your roof and away from your home. Look for areas where water has gone over the side of your gutters and caused damage to your landscaping or home. It is easy to spot problem areas once you know what to look for.

As climate change progresses, it becomes even more important to pay attention to precipitation rates and heavy storms. Protect your home with a gutter system that is the right size. Understand that gutters play an integral role in protecting your home, and have your gutters maintained whenever you see a problem.

Contact Weatherguard Gutters Today

When your basement floods or your bushes are getting destroyed because rain is pouring over the top of your gutters, it’s time to get the help your property deserves. When you need gutter maintenance or installation in metro Vancouver and the surrounding area, it’s time to contact Weatherguard Gutters. We have providing homes with protection and enhancement for more than 30 years.

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