It’s that time of year again to get the summer’s worth of leaves, dirt, pine needles, and other debris out of your gutters.  Get them cleaned out now and they will be ready to go for winter and when the spring rains come.  Don’t let all those leaves and other gunk clog your gutters.

Gutters do a very important job by directing water away from your home.  Water that accumulates around your home can cause basement leaks, settling and cracking of your foundation, and provides a moist environment that attracts bugs.  Moisture that accumulates in the gutters can cause wood rot in your roof and fascia.  Gutters prevent these problems by collecting the water that runs off your roof and channeling it safely out into your yard, but they won’t work if they are clogged with leaves and other debris.

There are a lot of devices on the market that claim to make gutter cleaning “fast and easy”.  Unfortunately, the reality is that the best way to ensure your gutters are thoroughly cleaned is to climb up there on a ladder and clean them by hand.

Be sure you take the appropriate safety precautions before you climb up the ladder to clean your gutters.  The ladder should be the right height for the job and be securely and evenly positioned.  Have someone on the ground to help steady the ladder. Don’t lean or stretch to reach the next section of gutter.  Instead, climb down and move the ladder so you can comfortably reach the area without leaning or stretching.  Always stay well away from power lines, including the lines that supply power to your home.

If you are uncomfortable at all while working on a ladder, it is well worth it to hire a gutter cleaning service to do the job.  Every year, thousands of Americans are injured or even killed falling from ladders.  Don’t take unnecessary risks when there many excellent gutter cleaning services who can get the job done safely for a reasonable price.