Thinking of cleaning your gutters? Here’s some advice
Winter is here, which means your gutters may need cleaning. Debris blocked gutters may cause a leaky roof and water damage to your home. Cleaning your gutters now, can save you both money and time when the storms roll around.
Imagine a blocked drain pipe, water not flowing freely through – this is what happens to abandoned gutters. Gutters serve to control the flow of rain water to protect your homes structural integrity. It’s simple, if they’re blocked – they don’t function properly.
How often should they be cleaned?
Here in Perth we need to clear our gutters twice a year! The Dickies Team recommends before Summer and leading up to Winter. In Summer blocked gutters can be a bushfire hazard, and it winter they can cause water damage as mentioned above.
Before we get started, its important to understand that cleaning gutters can be a tricky and job. It’s important you use the right equipment and eliminate potential risks. If you follow these steps, your gutters will be clear in no time.
- Survey the area
Before you begin, walk outside and have a thorough look at your gutters and surrounding area. Is the floor below level? Are trees or structures blocking clear accessibility and reachability? Is it a particularly windy day? Is there wet weather coming? - Gather a ladder and equipment
You’ll need a sturdy ladder, a plastic tarp, gloves and a gutter scoop. You can find these at your local hardware or garden store. Also it’s best to wear a strong long sleeved shirt. - It’s better as a two-person job
Why not get a friendly neighbour, spouse or friend to help you out? Having someone on the ground securing the ladder will make it a much safer and easier job. They can also hand equipment up to you, to keep you from going up and down. - Set up your space
Lay the plastic tarp on the ground just below and away from your ladder so you can throw debris down onto the ground out of your way. - Get climbing!
Keep your body centred between the side rails. You have climbed too high if your knees are above the top of the stepladder or if you cannot maintain a handhold on the ladder. Do not “shift” or “walk” a stepladder when standing on it. Do not stand, climb, or sit on the stepladder top or pail shelf. Always have one hand on the ladder to keep your balance. To learn more about ladder safety, read this: http://www.takeonestep.org/Pages/yoursafety/safenotsorry/climbingladders.aspx - Clean clean clean
Use the other free hand to scoop or grab the debris out of the gutter and throw it down onto the floor. Once they look pretty clear, it’s time to safely climb down, gather the debris in the tarp and dispose of it sustainably.
And there you have it, our special Dickies tips to cleaning gutters safely this season.
Dickies Trees are qualified arborists and tree surgeons with 30 years of experience. We specialise in all professional tree services, including tree removal, tree stump grinding, tree lopping and power line clearance. We can even deliver mulch!
We offer seven days a week service and after hours/emergency call-outs. As a major government, shire and business contractor, we are extremely professional and fully insured. We offer you exceptional, reliable service.
Give our friendly team a call on 9249 4077 to discuss your tree and garden requirements.
Cameron Dickie is the Managing Director of Dickies Tree Service, a family-owned arboriculture and tree services company based in Perth, Western Australia.
With more than 23 years of industry experience, Cameron has progressed from groundsperson to Managing Director, developing hands-on expertise across tree removal, pruning, vegetation management, risk assessment and emergency response works.
Under his leadership, Dickies Tree Service has grown into one of Perth’s most established and trusted tree service providers, delivering works for government agencies, local councils, universities, commercial organisations and residential clients across the Perth metropolitan area. Cameron is passionate about responsible tree management and best-practice arboriculture, with a strong focus on safety, compliance and long-term tree health outcomes.
