How to clean and maintain your gutters
When was the last time you cleaned the gutters at your rental? Gutters should be cleaned regularly to prevent them becoming blocked, which can lead to more serious issues.
NRLA partner TradePoint (B&Q) says gutters should be cleaned and maintained every six months. You may choose to hire a professional to do the job for you, however if you want to save money and do the job yourself, take a look at these steps on how to maintain gutters properly.
Don’t forget to give your tenants the relevant notice if you plan on clearing the gutters at a rental property that is currently occupied.
How to clean gutters
Perhaps you have noticed recently that the gutters are slightly clogged with leaves?
It can be a common issue at this time of year, and it’s important to deal with the matter swiftly to avoid any lasting structural damage to the gutter.
Safety first
To begin with, you’ll need to safely put up the ladder. You should follow the safety information on the ladder and attach a ladder stand off, which will provide you with extra stability.
It’s also important to make sure that the ladder is not resting on the gutter and make sure the base of the ladder is secure and on a level surface.
Remove obvious debris by hand
Use an S-hook to secure your bucket to the top of a ladder. Wearing suitable gloves, you can begin by removing loose debris in the gutter, things like dead leaves and twigs, by hand. Place debris into the bucket.
While you are up the ladder, you could also reattach or replace any brackets that might be loose.
Use a pressure washer for a thorough clean
Once all debris is removed, it’s time to hose down the gutter. You could invest in a telescopic pressure washer lance to do this. This will help remove any hard to reach debris.
Prevent debris collecting in the future
To minimize the amount of debris that collects in the gutter and the downpipe in future, you could always install a mesh guard, or a hedgehog gutter brush. A heavy duty drain guard will also give you extra protection, too!
Your TradePoint card
Do you have a TradePoint card? Great news! You can now add your TradePoint discount card to a digital wallet.
Adding your discount card to your digital wallet is a simple process that allows you to have your card available whenever you need it, without the hassle of carrying a physical card. A step-by-step guide on how to do this is available here.
Watch a video on how you can safely clear a gutter here:
