Clean gutters keep the outside of your Amarillo home looking good as they channel water away. You may wonder how to keep your gutters clean, when to do it, and why and we’re here to address some of those questions.
How Often Should You Clean Gutters?
The National Center for Healthy Housing advises to cleaning out the gutters twice a year, during spring and fall.
However, due to Amarillo’s weather and climate, you may have to do this more often. Dust storms (haboobs), high winds and debris are common in the Texas Panhandle and may leave your gutters clogged more quickly. For Amarillo residents that live near trees or in especially dusty areas, we recommend cleaning every 3-4 months.
Spring (March-April) is important to ensure winter debris and cottonwood seeds are cleared away. Spring storms can bring heavy rains and you want to be ready for them.
Fall (November) is particularly critical as falling leaves and debris contribute to greater buildup. Wait until cottonwood and mesquite trees are completely through shedding their leaves before your final fall cleaning. It’s best to wait until late fall for your last cleaning of the year.
The Risks of Neglecting Your Gutters
Water Damage & Foundation Problems
When your gutters are clogged they can no longer move rainwater away from the house. Rainwater overflows at the foundation, causing foundation damage and other expensive issues to occur. Overflow also runs onto siding and trim, causing rot. In Amarillo’s clay-rich soil, improper drainage can cause foundation shifts that can be especially troublesome (and expensive).
Dam Ice
When wintry precipitation hits Amarillo, along with checking your pipes, watch for ice dams. An ice dam occurs as already clogged gutters force water to flow over the edges of a gutter and freeze over. These dams can get heavy enough to go from gutter drooping to completely detaching from homes.
Amarillo does not typically experience the large snow events that occur in the northern cities, but ice dams can still occur after periods of rain or snow when temperatures dip below freezing overnight. Temperature swings from daytime highs to below freezing overnight are not uncommon in the winter months.
Removing ice dams during cold weather can be hazardous however you can reach out to a gutter professional for help.
Bug Infestations
In addition to pooling that can occur around improper drainage and gutter systems, bugs and rodents find solace in clogged gutters. As they find their own home there, it’s highly likely these unwanted guests make their way inside your home.
Loose Gutters
Heavy clogs can eventually pull gutters away from their attachments to the house. Amarillo’s frequent winds also allow free gutters to fly away much more quickly than in areas with less wind.
Easy Steps to Clean Gutters
There are step-by-step instructions we can follow to make our gutters run again. Let’s make a simple list of easy steps.
Gather Your Tools
- Gloves to avoid unwanted splinters and cuts.
- Safety goggles, debris can come at you as you clean.
- Dust mask, so you don’t inhale dust clearing the gutters out. (especially important in dusty Amarillo)
- Ladder along with someone to hold and spot the ladder as you go up.
- Garden trowel to remove goop and debris.
- Garden hose with a strong spray nozzle
- Bucket or bag to collect debris
The Cleaning Process
Step 1: Clear by Hand: Put your gloves on and use your ladder to scoop the leaves, twigs, tumbleweeds, cottonwood seeds, and dirt that have accumulated in your gutters. Start at the opposite end of the downspout first, and work toward the downspout.
Step 2: Flush with a Hose: Remove the larger debris by hand first, then rinse any remaining pieces down the downspout with your garden hose. Begin at the opposite end of the downspout and check for leaks while you’re up there. Check for mineral buildup in Amarillo areas with hard water. This may need to be scrubbed.
Step 3: Check Downspouts: Use your hose to spray water down the downspout to see if any water backs up. If water backs up a lot you’ll need to use a plumber’s snake or even remove the downspout to clean out the clogged part of the downspout. Make sure your downspouts are attached and that the water is running roughly 5-6 feet from the foundation to help prevent clay soil from eroding.
Step 4: Inspect and Repair Damage: While cleaning, look for any gutter leaks. This includes holes and cracked caulking. For cracked caulk, take a chisel to remove and then dry the area. Then apply bead silicon sealing, so water doesn’t get behind the gutter and rot the boards.
Then check the rivets and gutter spikes. For any loose spikes, replace them (wait until you have the new spikes before removing any). Gutter spikes should be going through the gutter into the fascia board and rafter. Rivet guns can re-secure rivets coming out.
Additional Tips:
A few more tips that will make our jobs easier:
- Leaf Blower: Dry debris will blow out of the gutter much faster with a leaf blower and will save you a lot of time. This is especially effective in Amarillo for the dust we get.
- Gutter Cleaning Attachments: There are gutter cleaning attachments you can purchase for your garden hose or a leaf blower that will extend its reach
- Tarp: Lay a tarp down on the ground will help to catch the debris making it easier to clean up.
- Gutter Guards: For long-term considerations, you may want to consider installing gutter guards to help minimize future maintenance work. Micro-mesh gutter guards are the best choice in dusty environments like Amarillo, as they keep small particulates out while still allowing water to pass through.
- Schedule Downtime: Try to schedule gutter cleaning during the calmer months in Amarillo (typically March-April), or in the calm morning hours.
Why Hire a Gutter Cleaning Company in Amarillo?
A few reasons to consider beyond the fact cleaning can be tedious…
An experienced gutter cleaning company can identify issues before they become even more costly repairs. Possible issues can include gutters drooping, leaks, and loosened rivets.
If you own a multi-story home, you may not own a tall enough ladder to properly and safely clear out the gutters. Depending on the style of your home, the gutters may also have an unusual design making them far harder to clean out.
For gutter cleaning and repair in the Amarillo area, contact us today with any questions or to get started.