Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Gut(ter) Check

For most homeowners,
cleaning the gutters is near the bottom of the proverbial to-do list. But keeping your gutters clean can really save you a lot of headaches; overflowing gutters can damage roofs and wreak havoc on your
foundation.


Keeping the water flowing properly isn’t as big a deal as you might think. And if you clean your gutters every six months, you’ll save yourself time and money.

According to www.hgtv.com, you can tell
if a gutter needs cleaning by looking up at
the gutter’s top, outside rim. If it is
discolored, there’s a buildup
and water is not flowing as it
should.

• To clean the gutters, use
a ladder. Make sure to be
safe and cautious around
power lines. If you feel
unsafe or uncomfortable,
hire a professional.

• There are several ways
to clean gutters. One is
to simply put on a pair
of gloves and dig the
debris out by hand and
rinse it with your hose.
Or you can use barbeque
tongs or make a scoop by
cutting a plastic, two-liter
soda bottle.

• To dispose of the debris, hang a
bucket on the ladder with a bungee
cord or lay a tarp on the ground to
catch the falling debris. When you’re
done, just roll up the tarp and empty it into
the trash.

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