Now that the winter has thawed and spring is here, it’s time to start thinking about some of the most essential home maintenance tasks you’ll need to take care of this season. Although cleaning your gutters may not be your favorite activity, you’ll need to prioritize gutter cleanings sooner rather than later. Otherwise, the wet weather could give way to some major issues — like clogging and flooding. If you want to avoid those scenarios, you’ll also want to take the time to avoid the following three mistakes when performing gutter cleanings.

MISTAKE: Using Improper Tools

When cleaning residential gutters, you’ll need the right products to do a thorough job. That means you shouldn’t use a leaf blower or a shop vac to clean the debris out of gutter systems. It might sound like a time saver at first, but using these as a short cut can end up directing the debris to your roof or other parts of your property. Ultimately, that will make more work for you later on. Using gutter scoops, gloves, close-toed shoes, and well-maintained ladders are also a must. If you fail to use those, you might not be able to do a thorough job — and you could put your safety at risk.

MISTAKE: Not Cleaning Regularly

Another big mistake you might be making with your residential gutters? Not cleaning them as frequently as you should. Gutter cleaning should be done at least twice a year. Usually, this task is performed in spring and in fall, due to the more favorable weather. If you can’t remember the last time you had your gutters cleaned or know that it’s been at least six months since you even examined them, it’s definitely time to take action. Getting this done as soon as possible will allow you to clear out the leaves and debris that might have found their way in since you last attended to these systems — without risking the possibility of flooding due to summer rainstorms.

MISTAKE: Trying to DIY Your Gutter Cleaning

Although it certainly is possible to clean residential gutters yourself, whether or not it’s advisable is a different story. Going the DIY route can actually be quite dangerous, particularly if you’re using improper equipment or techniques. Standing or sitting on your roof to clean your gutters, for example, can be extremely hazardous due to the instability of the surface. What’s more, cleaning your gutters without someone to hold the ladder for you can result in serious injuries in the event of a fall. In the end, it’s far safer to hire gutter cleaning services to take care of these tasks. Just make sure to hire a reputable company with the proven experience and licensure to back up their claims.

Although there’s a lot of upkeep to take care of this spring, you’ll need to make sure that gutter cleaning is near the top of your to-do list. For more information on our services, please contact us today.