How To Clean And Maintain Aluminium Gutters

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your aluminium gutters are important not only to manage the increasing volume of rainfall but because they can block by accumulating silt, leaves and other materials.

Gutters are designed to collect run-off rainwater from the roof and carry it away from the base of the building (foundation) of the home through what is known as “downspouts.”

Gutters are also manufactured from a variety of other materials, ranging from PVC as well as metal ranges including steel, cast iron, copper and zinc.

Safety

You must ensure that you are well prepared before attempting to clean your gutter.

If you are working on a site, you can find all the safety regulations that are summarized in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

Cleaning a gutter can be a fun exercise when executed properly.

What you will need:

• • A ladder: preferably a four-legged one – someone must support the ladder from below.
  • Thick gloves: these will protect your hands from sharp leaves, needles, and any other non-desirables that may have accumulated in the gutter.
  • A scoop and bucket: a necessity for collecting and removing debris.

Inspect regularly

Regular gutter maintenance should be standardised so that potential problems can be identified and resolved.

The most suitable time to clean and maintain your gutters is around or after autumn, once all leaves have dropped, or perhaps in early winter so you are prepared for the drastic changes in the weather.

It is proven that aluminium gutters are very durable and are far less likely to damage from strong winds or drastic temperature changes from changes in the season, but that does not mean they are not susceptible to blocking.

Therefore, even with aluminium gutters, consistent cleaning and maintenance will ensure that your gutters are running smoothly and are prepared for periods of heavy rainfall.

Clearing and Cleaning

Clearing debris

Planning how you are going to remove debris from the gutters is important. You can use either a bag or a bucket, depending on your workload.

You could throw the debris onto the floor but if it is a wet, stagnant sludge then it will make a large mess on your property.

Climb your ladder once you are confident it is appropriately positioned and secured.

When you are at the top of the ladder, make sure that you are positioned so that you do not overreach as this causes instability with your ladder and you may fall.

• • • • Start to remove any silt, leaves, or other materials that have been collected in the aluminium gutters by scooping it by hand, or a tool such as a trowel, and fill it into your container.
      • Always scoop towards you and collect the debris in heaps, but do not push excess force onto the guttering as you do not want to dislodge it.

Once you have cleared your surrounding area, climb down your ladder, and reposition it in the next area, and repeat the process.

Cleaning your gutter

Once the primary debris has been removed, your gutters are ready to be washed. Washing your gutters helps with clearing any loose debris that remains.

First, place your ladder so you are working with and not against the slope of your gutter.

There are several ways you can clean your gutters, the most common methods being:

• • • • Using the flow of a garden hose to flush out debris.
      • Using the flow of water from a bucket.
      • Using a specialist gutter cleaner from the ground.

Look for damage

Cleaning your gutters provides an excellent opportunity to inspect them for any damage.

As aluminium gutters are more robust and do not break as easily as plastic, it would be a good idea to check for any dents or disfigurement. Aluminium gutters can often be reshaped and realigned, rather than replaced.

We supply traditional style aluminium gutters that are designed in pre-cut sections and are easy to assemble. Naturally, they have many joints (or miters) that can deteriorate over time if they are not cleaned, as dirt can get lodged in-between the joints.

Therefore, it is a good idea to regularly check your gutter, especially your joints, as this will help save you money in the future.