Living in Cape Town does not spare you from clogged gutters. The City of Gold has been named one of the greenest cities in the world so residents have their fair share of leaves to take care of. Autumn brings with it strong winds as the trees shed their leaves in preparation for winter.
Apart from leaves, other debris that can fill your gutters includes fruits, seeds and other waste deposited by animals. Cleaning gutters is by far the least glamorous outdoor chore which most home owners choose not to do. There are consequences to not cleaning your gutters. They may become so laden with debris over time that they may eventually collapse, leaving you with structural damage that could cost a fortune to repair.
Here are a few helpful tips to get you on your way to have clean, free gutters:
1. Call for help. There are many companies that can do this sort of thing for you at reasonable rates. The point is to keep your gutters clean and if you have to call a service, call a service!
2. If you would rather do it yourself, make sure you know which equipment to use. A spatula or small plastic spade and a garden hose will usually suffice. A pair of gloves is always a good idea as you don’t know what might be lurking under all that leaf matter.
3. Know exactly where to start. Have a look at your gutters and decide where to start and where to end. It is always advisable to start with the areas that a further up and work your way down.
4. Check the weather report for the day you plan on cleaning the gutters. You don’t want all your hard work to be in vain should a freak rainstorm hit. Rain is rare in autumn and winter. Rare, not impossible.
5. Practice safety measures. Treat your house like a construction site. Use sturdy ladders and make sure everyone knows that you will be on the roof. Accidents do happen.
Cleaning out your gutters is no small task. Always bear in mind that your actions today could save you thousands in the long run.