Day: October 28, 2021

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

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Cleaning
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

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Improvement
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.

The post How to Unclog a Clogged Gutter appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.

Using Your Gutters for Rainwater Collection

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Services
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.

The post Using Your Gutters for Rainwater Collection appeared first on Weather Guard Gutters.