How often do homeowners clean their gutters in Houston? Probably not frequently enough. Honestly, it’s easy to forget how important local gutter cleaning is until the gutters are not working properly. Then you’re stuck cleaning up the mess, which can be expensive. Read on for reasons why you should be local gutter cleaning in Houston.

Why Is It Important To Clean Your Gutters?

If you want to protect your home and its residents, cleaning your gutters is vital. Water poses a huge threat to structural integrity and health, and redirecting water is your gutters’ primary function. If water puddles in undesirable places, you can end up with all sorts of problems.

It Prevents Damage to Your Foundation

When Houston gutters overflow, they can end up puddling near the walls of your house. These puddles are sure to create mud and disrupt landscaping, but there’s a bigger problem: They can damage your foundation.

Water can seep into your foundation, where it may exacerbate cracks or even wear away at the ground underneath. In either case, the stability of your home is undermined, and the fix is usually costly.

It Helps You Avoid Roof Strain

This may sound surprising, but wet leaves, pine needles, dirt, and other debris can get very heavy when allowed to accumulate. That weight can put a strain on your gutters, which may pull away from the house. In the worst-case scenario, it can undermine your roof, leading to leaks, loose shingles, or even partial collapse.

It Saves Your House From Water Damage

Your foundation isn’t the only area at risk of water damage. If you have a basement, water can find its way inside through windows or even walls. Soaked carpets and upholstered furniture can house all sorts of mold, bacteria, and other pathogens, which means they need to be thoroughly sanitized or thrown away.

Even if the water doesn’t make it past the walls, you may still have problems. Mold and mildew can grow inside walls, causing potential health issues. There’s also the risk of termites, which are drawn to moisture.

What Are the Best Local Gutter Cleaning Ways in Houston?

What if you’ve never used a local gutter cleaning service before? The good news is, there are several ways you can tackle this job.

The process itself can be physically demanding, but the results are well worth the effort. It’s crucial to clean thoroughly and look for issues as you go. If you do find a problem, you should contact a professional for repairs.

How To Manually Clean Your Gutters

If you’ve got a lot of debris on your roof from a storm, getting your hands dirty may be the best local gutter cleaning thing to do in Houston. Before you start, make sure to gather the following:

Garden trowel or gutter scoop
Heavy-duty gloves
Bucket

Then, use a ladder to reach the eaves. With the trowel, remove debris and dump it in the bucket to dispose of later.

How To Use Water To Clean Your Gutters

If your gutters are relatively clear, you can use water to wash away debris. It’s possible to do this with a garden hose, though you may still need a ladder. If you’d rather clean your gutters from the ground, you can either get a power washer or a special attachment to your garden hose.

Either way, you need to start opposite the downspout and work your way across the channel. If you’re cleaning from the ground, you may want to use a ladder afterward to ensure no debris remains.

How To Use a Leaf Blower To Clean Your Gutters

Leaf blowers are the perfect tool to remove debris from your gutters, as they usually come with narrow attachments that give you fine control. If you choose to use a leaf blower, try to blow debris out of the gutter instead of toward the downspout. This technique means a bit of cleanup afterward, but it will keep your downspout from clogging.

Are your gutters in need of repair or replacement? Guardian Roofing is here to help. We’re the roof experts at maintenance, installation, and repair. If you need a section of your system replaced, we can do a gutter color match to ensure the appearance is cohesive.

Gutters take quite a beating from the elements, so you must look after them. For more information on gutter installation, other services, or to schedule a roofing inspection or consultation, give us a call at (832) 998-3458 or contact us online.