The Hazards Of Unclogging Your Gutter Replacement System
Your house gutters play a critical role in keeping your home’s basement dry and its foundation from cracking. However, gutter leaf guards often become clogged when items such as leaves, twigs, and pine needles become stuck in the system. To prevent water damage to your home and to protect against mosquitoes inhabiting your house gutters, maintenance needs to occur. While many homeowners assume this chore is straightforward, there are several reasons why it is dangerous.
Ladder Falls From The Maintenance Of Gutter Guards
Studies from the World Health Organization have shown that the United States leads the globe in the number of annual ladder deaths. Even more shocking is that most ladder deaths are from 10 feet or less. Because of the location of gutter guards, the primary way they are accessed for maintenance is through the climbing of a ladder. If a homeowner does find themselves in this situation, it’s safest to retain the services of a licensed and insured professional with the proper safety equipment and training that can unclog the gutter drainage system.
Failure To Have The Proper Tools & Training When Unclogging A Gutter Installation
Homeowners that attempt to unclog their gutter home system without the right tools for the job can struggle to successfully complete the maintenance. Tools that can assist with extricating debris from gutter protection systems include gloves, a bucket, a gutter scoop, and shoes that provide a solid grip. Homeowners should also be aware of the hazards of walking on their roof to remove organic fragments from their house gutters can also be unsafe. This is because shingles often become slippery from rain, snow, dew, and algae growth. Upon climbing on the roof, it’s safest to lean forward in the roof to ensure maximum traction.
Unstable Ladders Can Be Dangerous To Use When Maintaining House Gutters
Without proper safety training, the occupants of many types of ladders can find themselves in a dangerous spot when maintaining gutter protection systems. Ladders that aren’t situated on level ground can soon become wobbly. Windy conditions can also increase the likelihood of a homeowner falling during the unclogging of gutter leaf guards. Homeowners can also cause a ladder to become unstable if they are unable to use both hands to climb the ladder rungs because they are carrying tools to unclog their gutter installation. Another way a ladder can become unstable is if a homeowner reaches out too far to unclog their house gutters. For these reasons, the use of a ladder stabilizer is highly recommended.
Failure To Wear Gloves When Clearing Debris From A Gutter Drainage System
When gutter systems become clogged, they are often filled with leaves, branches, and pine needles. These items are often saturated from sitting in standing water. Over time, this organic matter can encourage the growth and fungi, which can create a health hazard if it comes in direct contact with human skin. It’s worth noting that clogged gutters can also house mosquitoes, rodents, wasps, and birds. Another hazard of cleaning a gutter replacement system sans gloves is that it’s possible for a homeowner to cut their hands on screws in the gutters or the metal the gutter toppers are made from.
Locally Owned Gutter Replacement Contractors
Since 1979, the craftsmen of Lindus Construction have offered their lifetime workmanship guarantee on an array of exterior home improvements including LeafGuard® Brand Gutters. This home gutter system is guaranteed to be clog-free. In addition, the gutter replacement system it has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval. Contact us today for your complimentary gutter installation consultation.
