Fall is in full swing in York, Pennsylvania, and as rainy weather intensifies, it’s crucial to prepare your gutters to handle the increased water flow. Properly cleaning and maintaining your gutters prevents excess water runoff, which can lead to serious issues like structural damage, flooding, and costly home repairs. Avoid these problems before they arise by following our comprehensive guide on how to clean, repair, and maintain your gutters. With fall gutter maintenance tips designed for York, PA homeowners, you can ensure your home stays protected this season.
When to Clean and Maintain Your Gutters:
It is recommended that you clean your gutters at least twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. If you’re living in a heavily wooded area in South Central Pennsylvania, we would recommend keeping a closer eye on your gutters to ensure excess leaves and debris aren’t getting trapped. Pro Tip: Check your gutters before and after heavy rainfall to really keep them in top-shape.
Tools Needed:
Ladder: Make sure you have a sturdy ladder that can get you high enough to safely reach your gutters.
Gloves: Use gloves to avoid injury to your hands and keep them clean.
Garden Hose: This is helpful to remove smaller debris and build up.
Additional Supplies for Maintenance:
Gutter Sealant: This is useful if your gutters have any cracks or damage.
Gutter Guards/Screens: These are perfect for preventing larger debris from getting clogged in your gutters.
Drill/Screwdriver and Screws: You will only need these supplies if you find an area on your gutters that needs repaired.
The Process:
Step 1: Safely Set Up Your Ladder & Prepare all Supplies.
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have all your desired tools and supplies easily accessible. Set up your ladder and ensure it is secure. For best safety practices, avoid stepping above the second to last step, ensure the ground beneath you is level, and do not extend your reach too far.
Step 2: Start Removing Debris.
Using either your hands or a gutter scooper, start to remove debris from your gutters. Start near the downspout and work your way out. You can dispose of debris in a bucket attached to your ladder or in a nearby yard waste bag.
Step 3: Flush Out Additional Debris.
Start at the far end of your gutters and work toward the downspout. Use your garden hose with a spray nozzle attachment to flush out remaining debris and dirt stuck in your gutters. Make sure your downspout isn’t clogged and is flushing the water out.
Step 4: Evaluate Your Gutters.
Now that your gutters are clean, inspect them to ensure there is no pre-existing damage. Look for holes, leaks, loose screws, and cracked caulk. If you locate any of the above, take time to repair the damage or give us a call to come handle it for you.
Step 5: Inspect Downspouts
Check your downspouts to ensure they are properly connected to your gutter and there are no lose rivets. Fix any loose rivets and reattach any areas that may have become disconnected. This is a common issue, so don’t panic. If you don’t have the tools you need to fix this, just give us a call!
Step 6: Preventative Maintenance
If you do live in a heavily wooded area across South Central Pennsylvania or notice that your gutter become easily clogged, it might be a good idea to install gutter guards. Gutter guards help keep excess debris out of your gutters. There are several different options available, and the installation process will depend on the brand you choose. If you would like to have these installed, Westwood can handle this process for you.
Step 7: Maintain
Before you move onto the next task at hand, make a note for yourself in your calendar to repeat this process in the spring. You can help prevent damage to your home by regular cleaning and maintenance checkups.
Don’t have the time or supplies to clean your gutters? Westwood’s seasonal maintenance packages at have you covered! Enroll today in our quarterly packages and let us handle the scheduling and maintenance. Click here to enroll today. We’re always here to give you an extra hand with your home maintenance, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Call, text, or book now to get connected with a trusted local handyman today!
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