Why you need to Clean your Gutters

Here in St. Louis, the weather can change constantly.  Lately, we've been having some pretty bad storms which means debris is building up in your gutters.  Cleaning your gutters is important for many reasons.  When your gutter are clogged with storm debris, like leaves and twigs, it can stop the flow of water and cause the water to over flow out of the gutter, potentially causing you a major headache later.  Some consequences of this could include basement water damage or even structural damage.

Good clean gutters help to protect the outer shell of your house which includes the roof and foundation. Helping to keep moisture away from these areas keep the inside areas dry if moisture doesn`t have a chance to build up or get in. I mention the roof as once temperatures get colder with winter coming soon, ice damming can occur trapping snow and ice up on the roof line. With the heat escaping through the attic, this can cause the build up to melt and eventually get through the roof line into the house. With a lot of leaves falling these days it may be time to get up on the ladder and check the gutters.  There are a number of reputable contractors to do the job for you if so desired. Be sure to check them out first as to make sure the work is properly done.

Gutter Cleaning 101

It`s getting to be time for spring again. Old Man Winter probably filled your gutters again with gunk to clog them up. Time to check them and get them clean before the spring rains come around.  This gunk can clog up your downspouts causing the gutters to back up and overflow. This can cause damage to your roof or fascia board when they back up. Over flowing gutters can cause damage to your foundation. Keeping the outer shell of your home flowing freely will help to avoid further problems down the road.


Cleaning gutters is not rocket science and can be accomplished by any D.I.Y. person. When cleaning gutters work from a ladder and not the roof. Leaning over the roof may lead to personal injury if you fall. Use small buckets to collect the debris as you go along, this is also a good way to hold your tools while in the air.  Attached the buckets to your ladder with small hooks to free up your hands.  Never reach over the sides of the ladder. Once the debris is removed, use the hose to flush out the remaining gunk, start at the end opposite of the down spout to wash everything out.  An attachment for the hose to aid in the cleaning can be found at your local home store.  A clean gutter system will give you the peace of mind once the rains arrive. Also a good side note to remember, check the weather before cleaning gutters as dry gunk is better than wet gunk.