Dictionary For Dads

For home gutters to  do the job of preventing back up of water they must be clear of leaves and debris.  In addition, all downspouts must be clear of debris and leaves. If the water overflows around your home from clogged gutters and down pipes, it will eat away at your homes foundation and will also contribute to water, mold, or excessive humidity especially if your home has a basement. As many fathers know this causes health risks to children especially the mold.  Furthermore, if the down spouts are clogged drain pipes will clog up and rainwater will fill your gutters. This will rot the wood the gutters are mounted to and eventually the water and/or ice weight will  pull your homes gutters loose from their mountings. This will be a big expense and an eye soar to your neighbors and or spouse.

Dictionary For Dads suggests that you clean out gutters at least twice a year. If you are not physically able to do the manual labor of climbing a ladder and balancing on a roof we suggest you hire a contractor to do it for you. Fathers should only take on this task if they know how to work safely from a ladder or on on the roof of their home. Never encourage your children to do this task it is dangerous.

Choose a sturdy ladder, and place it on a firm, level base. If you must lean your ladder against one of your gutters make sure to protect the gutter from bending by placing a two foot section of a 2 by 4 inside of it. This will prevent the gutter from bending. Always stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails, and never lean out over the sides of the ladder. Use the three point safety protocol when climbing any ladder. Make sure at all times you have two feet and on hand on the ladder at all times!

Some homes have roof tops which are flat or have a very small pitch. If this is the case in your home, it may be easier to access the gutters from the roof rather than working from a ladder. But only do this under extremely safe conditions

We recommend that all fathers use their logic and common sense when attempting to work on your roof or on a ladder, Never attempt this when their is any rain, sleet, snow or high winds. Make sure your work area is dry and if on the roof or scaffold always wear a safety harness, non slip boots, eye protection and work gloves.

• Scoop out loose debris: Begin cleaning debris and leaves near the drain outlet on the pitched end of a gutter, use a small potting shovel or trowel to scoop out the leaves and loose debris into a pile you can pick out of the gutter. Always  start at the drain outlet and work away from the drain outlet to prevent any extra debris from clogging the downspout..  If you are luck enough to have a flat roof  and the leaves are dry you can use a blower to blow the leaves out but do not blow them in the downspout.  If you have debris in the gutter or drain  it is usually  damp and easy to scoop out.

• Gutter Blasting: After you have removed the debris from the gutters,  wash out each length of your gutters, working toward the drain outlet to wash down any small particles left in the drain. This will prevent other debris from getting stuck on these left overs in your homes gutters. If you have a high pressure hose nozzle use it and blast the hell out of them. Do not leave any molded dirt in  your gutter.

• Clearing obstructions in drainpipes: If water doesn’t drain freely through drainpipes you have a clogged down spout.  Dictionary For Dads recommends that you try flushing the drain pipe free of debris with your hose. Make sure the bottom of the drain did not shift and is still pitched enough for water to flow freely. If all is well and the water is still delayed or is not coming down the drain pipe freely, we recommend that you use a snake to clear out the obstructions. Run the snake throgh the drain pipe and any elbows you have and try and loosen up the debris and drag it down. Sometimes if you can just loosen it and blast it with your hose and it will clear out.