Cleaning your gutters! – When is the best time to do this? and why you should always call the professionals

Gutter cleaning is one of those not so glamorous sides of homeownership. While they only make up a small portion of a house, they play a big role in keeping your home protected from water damage. Here we’ll share some insider tips on when to clean your gutters and why it’s sometimes better to leave it to the professionals.

Why should you keep your gutters clean?

Our gutters are up high and essentially out of sight out of mind, which can make it easy to forget about cleaning them. So, why should you keep your gutters clean? Well, there are a few reasons, one of them is that clear gutters prevent water from accumulating in them. When rainwater has nowhere to go it inevitably spills over the gutters and onto the home. After significant rain, the water will pool at the foundation of the home, and over time, can cause issues with the integrity of the property. 

Another problem with clogged gutters is, if the water cannot run away it will sit in the gutter and weeds will likely grow in them, the stagnant water becomes an ideal location for mosquitos to breed, and once the water dries up, the weeds will die which makes a perfect fire lighting material. If there is a fire in a neighbouring suburb, your home is more susceptible to catching alight. Embers can blow in the wind for kilometres, and it only takes one small ember to fall into a gutter full of dry organic matter, and it can go up in flames in a matter of seconds. The weight of leaves, debris and water sitting in the gutters can cause damage, and they may even fall off making them completely useless.

How often should I clean my gutters?

A general rule of thumb is once a year however, it should be done more often if you live in a bushfire prone area, your gutters are showing signs of damage or there are a lot of trees surrounding your home. Rather than waiting a year between cleans, it’s better to clean your gutters to match the conditions, for example, if you have had a storm or high winds of late, it’s likely that your gutters a full of twigs, leaves etc and you should clear them out as soon as you can before they have a chance to damage your gutters. It is also a good opportunity to check the condition of your roof and downpipes as sometimes they can shift out of place or break in a storm. You’ll be able to fix them quickly before they cause any damage to your home.

When is the best time to clean out my gutters?

The best time to clean your gutters out is at the end of autumn or spring. This is when most of the trees have finished shedding, and this is when your gutters will generally be at their fullest. While summer tends to be bushfire season here in Australia, waiting until then might be too late, and it’s not worth taking your chances.

Why should I call in the professionals for my gutter cleaning?

There are several reasons why you should call in a professional gutter cleaning company rather than trying to do it yourself. Here are just some of them:

It’s time-consuming

Cleaning out your gutters can take up a considerable amount of time. By the time you’ve worked your way around the entire house, a few hours would have passed. Professionals can complete the job in a fraction of the time, and you don’t have to wait around for them to finish, allowing you to enjoy your free time.

Less mess

For most homeowners, clearing out their gutters is either done by hand or by shifting debris with a garden hose, both methods are very messy and will usually result in dirt and gunk ending up on the house and the garden below. Most professional gutter cleaners use a sophisticated vacuum system to pick up the tiniest of particles leaving your home and garden as they found it.

Safer option

Gutter cleaning companies are equipped with all the necessary safety equipment needed to clean out gutters quickly and efficiently. Doing it yourself can be extremely dangerous if you don’t have the correct safety measures in place. Falling from a height can cause significant injuries.

Get professional advice

While cleaning your gutters out, the gutter cleaning professional will look at the condition of your gutters, downpipes, and roof. They can alert you to any issues such as leaks, loose roof tiles or guttering. They can also let you know of any potential issues that should be seen to. This can prevent them from worsening and causing costly damage to your home.

While you can tackle gutter cleaning yourself, you can save time and have peace of mind knowing your gutters are in tip-top shape by hiring a professional to take care of it for you. By booking it in advance, you never have to worry about missing a clean and your home will be protected year-round. If you are looking for a gutter cleaning company that uses state-of-the-art gutter cleaning equipment, look no further than Global Vac Gutter Cleaning, we can have your gutters looking brand new! Give us a call today!