Your gutter system needs routine checkups that may involve professions for an inclusive inspection and mitigation of any problem as you spot it. Thus, it is essential to take advantage of summer and other times of the year with no rain to engage in such maintenance endeavors. Such a timely approach gives you the chance to address recurrent gutter issues before the rainy season resumes. For a comprehensive checkup, this post focuses on presenting a useful Gutter Inspection & Cleaning Checklist for you
1. Clear the Debris off the Gutters
It is imperative to begin by ensuring that your gutters are visible from any angle by clearing all the debris. Use sturdy gloves to scoop out fragments such as leaves, needles, and sticks from the gutters. Do this repeatedly until you reach the point where your channels are free of any last fall fragments.
2. Inspect Gutters for Cracks, leaks, and holes
Assess your gutters to rule out any holes and cracks that may cause leaking of water along the line. Run water from a hosepipe into the drains while ensuring no dripping or access water. Such an assessment is essential when intending to identify and seal leaking gutter seams. Ensure there is no clogging at the downspouts.
3. Get Rid of the Nests
At times, various animals and birds may seek refuge on your gutter systems by establishing nests along these water harvesting channels. Nesting birds fledge during summer months hence the need to check the nests from the gutters. Remember to check the signs of life before removing the nests once you establish that they are empty.
It is also crucial to inspect the gutters for the presence of wasp nests. If you find out that they have camped, you will have to call the pest control experts for professional removal. In case you opt to clear the wasps alone, you ought to be in perfect personal protective gear to shield you from stings.
4. Embark on Cleaning the Gutters
A thorough cleaning should be the next thing after removing the debris from the gutters and establishing that you can see through them with clarity. Get a gentle abrasive, a bush for scrubbing and soap ready for cleaning. You ought to test the cleaning products and your brush on a gutter test patch before you start the cleaning.
Scrub off the algae, mold, and moss as you seek to establish the areas greatly affected to revisit them as you clean. Assess the drainage of your roofs since areas with increased moss, algae, and mold may signify faulty drainage.
5. Assess Gutter Damages
During the cleaning session, you can identify rusted areas, holes that require filling, and sections where your gutters are misaligned. Use pliers to move the sagging parts upward. Mark the rusty areas to replace the irreparable segments. Ensure you fix the leaks by filling the gaps created by the holes that you may identify.
6. Repair Any Leaking Gutter
Checking for leaks is the next big thing that comes after an intensive gutter cleaning. Assess your gutters keenly to establish the presence of visible holes or buckling areas. Run water through the gutters to check the presence of invisible holes.
Assess the magnitude of the leaks to find out if they require the attention of professional gutter repair experts, or you may fix the holes yourself. When doing it yourself, use a metallic patch embedded using roofing cement or apply silicone seal on a dry, clean gutter piece.
7. Assess the Roof
It is outrightly clear that the gutter system works together with your roofing. Such a correlation makes it crucial to pay attention to the roof while you are up on the ladder during the gutter cleaning session. Assess the roofing for leaks, loose shingles, and stagnant water brought about by inadequate or clogged gutters.
Fix any areas of your roof that need repair or replacement and look out for gutter issues that may bring the roof problems.
8. Connect New Gutters
Capitalize on time of the year with less to no rain, such as summer for long term gutter maintenance practices. A dry session is the most suitable period to install downspouts and new gutters that you have been yearning to set up.
Install covers for your channel to shield them from leaves that fall and other debris that may damage the system. Such an initiative will help you in reducing the overall maintenance costs.
