Gutters are a vital part of every home.

They direct water away from walkways, landscaping, and your home’s foundation. However, the gutters may get clogged from accumulated debris after some time. That is why it’s essential to clean your gutters at least twice a year to keep your home in prime condition. Follow these tips to clean your home gutters safely and effectively.

Ensure Your Home is Ready for Gutter Cleaning

Make sure that you prepare your work area prior to starting your gutter cleanup. Laying out a large tarp to collect the debris will prevent from making a mess all over your yard. You will need a ladder that you can move easily as you move down the length of your gutters. Ensure that you are climbing your ladder on a level and solid surface and not against your gutters.

Protect Your Hands and Feet When you Clean Your Gutters

Protect yourself with sturdy work gloves and wear safe, non-slip shoes so you have good traction on the rungs of your ladder. Gloves prevent you from coming into contact with germs and bacteria in the debris.

Carry Everything Needed to Clean Your Gutters

Ensure that you have all the required tools you will need to clean your gutters and make any repairs while you are up there. Using a tool belt instead of stuffing the tools in your pocket can help prevent dropping tools and possible injuries. If you don’t have a tarp, you can hang a bucket on your ladder to collect the debris you scoop when you clean your gutters.

Start Cleaning

After your workstation is ready, start to clean your gutters by removing large chunks of debris with your gloved hands. Next, use a trowel or gutter scoop to scrape out the packed-in leaves and dirt. It’s better if you begin scooping debris closer to the downspout and move away from it as you progress.

Spray Away Gunk

When you’ve removed all the debris, use your hose and spray nozzle to rinse off dirt and other grime from your gutters. Spray from the end opposite the downspout so that water flows out of the gutters. You can also use a pressure washer for extra power. But remember to be careful not to spray under the shingles to avoid loosening them.

Check for Leaks in the Gutter System and Make Repairs

If your home gutters are warping or have several cracks, it’s essential to seal them right away. If your downspout is blocked, feed your hose up and spray at maximum pressure to unclog it. If the paint on your gutter is chipped, repaint them to look as good as new. For gutters with serious damage, call a professional for a quote to replace them.

Regular gutter cleaning is necessary to prevent various problems around your home. And when the time comes to clean them, the above steps will help you to do the job safely and effectively.

Spartan Home Inspection provides home inspection services to the Tulsa area. Contact us to schedule an inspection.

Tulsa Termite Inspections

Termites are a serious problem for homeowners throughout the United States. They eat through wood and building materials leading to thousands of dollars of damage, often not covered by homeowners’ insurance. The best way to save yourself the cost of restoring termite damage is to take action to prevent termites.

Prevent Termites: Remove Common Access Points

Like other pests, termites look for the easiest way to enter your home. To prevent termites, seal cracks and spaces around pipes and gas lines. Regularly examine the exterior of your home and foundation for holes that pests could go through. Wood that is in contact with the foundation or side of the home also entices termites. Keep wood for your fireplace stacked at least ten feet from the house.

Eliminate Food Sources to Prevent Termites

In addition to keeping wood a safe distance from your house, keep any excess cellulose-rich material out of your home. Some types of landscaping mulch contain cellulose. Keep wood-based mulch 6 inches or further from the foundation to prevent termites. Alternative mulches, like pine needles, will not attract termites.

Repair Leaks and Saturated Wood

Elevated moisture levels and saturated building materials lead to mold growth, leading to termites who eat the sodden wood. If you discover a leaking faucet or pipe in your house, make repairs immediately and thoroughly dry and dehumidify the area. If the wood is beyond repair, hire a professional to replace it.

Prevent Termites: Get Rid of Tree Stumps

After a tree is removed, some homeowners opt to leave the stump in the ground to cut down on expenses. However, tree stumps are appealing food for termites. Once they run out of food in the stump, termites will look for a new food source and might end up inside your house. To prevent termites, have tree stumps professionally removed and dug up.

Apply Termiticide Around Your Home

Pest control companies use liquid termiticide as a way to prevent termites. The termiticide is applied around the perimeter of the building. If you have plants right next to your home, tilling the soil and watering it will degrade the termiticide prematurely. Avoid planting shrubs or flowers within six inches of your house to avoid penetrating the barrier and creating an avenue for termites to enter.

Schedule a Home Inspection

If your home has risk factors for termite activity, scheduling an annual termite inspection from a skilled home inspector will catch action before it progresses. During the inspection, the inspector will check for signs of termite activity like tunnels, structural damage, and problems like damp wood that could lead to eventual termite activity. The cost of this inspection is far less than the cost of termite remediation.

Spartan Home Inspection offers inspection services, including termite inspections, to homebuyers and sellers in Tulsa and the surrounding area. Contact us to request an appointment.