Gutter Safety
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The colorful leaves of fall can be beautiful, but can also cause problems for homeowners. Leaves and other debris can clog rain gutters and may lead to home damage.
Rain Gutter Basics
Your rain gutters serve a purpose—they protect your house, windows, doors and foundation by collecting the rain water and leading it through it downspouts to prevent water damage and flooding.
In order for this process to occur properly, the rain gutters must be clear of all debris, such as leaves, sticks and bugs.
Proper maintenance will also prevent gutters from corroding and pulling loose from their mountings.
Before you Begin Cleaning Your Gutters
To begin the cleaning process, always wear a pair of heavy gloves to protect hands from debris and sharp metal objects, like screws or sharp pieces of the gutter which may stick out or be buried in the debris.
Safety glasses or goggles should be worn to protect eyes from flying debris.
Place a drop cloth below the section of gutter you’re working on to capture the excess debris being removed.
Other supplies necessary to safely clean out a rain gutter include a bucket, a gardening shovel or drain clearing tool and a pistol-grip nozzle for the hose.
Perhaps the most important tool of them all is a sturdy ladder that should be placed on a level, flat surface.
Never crawl out onto a roof as it is considered extremely dangerous.
Remember, if using a step ladder, never step on the top two rungs—the warning on
the ladder is there for a reason.
If using an extension ladder, always extend the ladder three rungs beyond the
roof edge and secure the ladder from tipping with rope at the top or the base.
If this is not practical, it’s a good idea to have another person help stabilize
the ladder by holding it for you.
Cleaning rain gutters, as well as any other work that is completed on a ladder or roof, should never be completed during any kind or storm or weather in which ice or precipitation is possible.
Cleaning Gutters
Begin by scooping out the loose debris with a gardening shovel or substitute tool, and place the loose debris into the bucket. The bucket should be properly secured on the opposite side of your step ladder.
Start at the low end of the gutter near the drain outlet and work progressively away from it. Continue to scoop out the loose and/or damp debris until it is all cleared away. If there are any remaining fragments encrusted to the gutter, go back and scrape it loose.
After Removing Gutter Debris
Once everything is cleared out, it is now time to use the hose. Using a pistol-grip nozzle allows you to control the amount of water pressure being used and works as an on/off button too.
Working toward the drain outlet, spray the water away from your body and us it to push the remaining debris out of the gutter. Keep an eye on the drain spout during this process; if the water is not freely flowing out of the drain spout, a blockage is present and should be removed by spraying the hose directly down the spout at full pressure. If this does not release the obstruction, a plumber’s “snake” can be used to knock the obstruction free.
Always remember that rain gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, if not
more if your house is located in an area where it is exposed to severe storms often.
Author: Wayne Lundstrom and Mark Fullen, WVU Extension Service Home Safety Experts
Last Reviewed: May 23, 2017