How To Clean Your Blocked Gutter

Cleaning Your Gutter

​Wind, rain and snow can cause a number of challenges to your building in the autumn and winter months, particularly your gutter. This weather along with leaf fall can lead to a build-up of debris in your gutter, resulting in a blockage. Blockages in your gutter can lead to significant problems to your building, including pooling at the side of the building, structural instability, increased risk of dampness, and wall staining amongst other problematic issues.

If you find your gutter blocked due to excessive buildup of debris, what do you do before it gets worse? This step-by-step guide will show you!

Grab A Steady Ladder

​Cleaning your gutter is a simple DIY task to carry out yourself, as long as you use the correct equipment and take the right precautions. First things first, you need to be at the correct height to reach the gutters. To do this you will need a sturdy ladder, placed on an even and stable surface. If you need to lean it against the guttering, place a short piece of timber inside the gutter to provide extra reinforcement. If using an extension ladder, you can buy clips or stabilisers to add stability to the ladder without damaging the gutter.

Protect Your Hands

​Before attempting to clear the debris from the gutter, you should ensure that you are wearing adequate protection for your hands. Wear a pair of protective gloves that preserves dexterity whilst shielding your hands from any potential hazards like sharp screws.

Attach A Bucket Or Lay A Tarpaulin 

​Next, lay something down underneath the gutter to catch the any excess debris. This can either be a tarpaulin spread around the area below, or a bucket attached onto the top of the ladder.

Clear Away Roof Debris

Once you are on the ladder with the necessary protections and precautions, you are ready to remove the debris from the roof. This will prevent any further debris getting into your gutter during and after cleaning.

Dispose Of Gutter Debris

​Once the debris from the roof has been removed, it’s finally time to clean out the gutter. This can be done with either a small trowel or by hand with protective gloves. Collect the debris from the gutter and drop it into the bucket or tarpaulin below.

Clear Downpipes

​With the gutter now clear, the final step is to clean the downpipes. You will need a screwdriver to loosen the downpipe clips and brackets. Once this is done, dislodge any remaining debris with a wire, stick or hose. With the downpipes now clear, you simply have to reconnect the pipes.

How To Keep Your Gutter Clear

Congratulations, you have now cleaned your gutter! However, without a quality gutter protection system you can expect to be back up that ladder in the near future. So, how can you avoid this?

By installing a quality gutter brush system like Porcupipe™ Gutterbrush, you can ensure your gutter remains clutter free year-round. Unlike other gutter protection systems like gutter guards that simply cover your gutter, Porcupipe™ fills the gutter, and is the best gutter brush for providing a robust barrier against debris. No more worrying about blockages, or how to keep your gutter clear. Porcupipe™ Gutterbrush will make sure you won't have to read this guide again, with a clutter free gutter!

If you need some help with gutter brush DIY, you can read our gutter brush installation guide here!