Fall is great time to clean your gutters! Over the year, sticks, leaves, dirt, and other debris have been falling into your gutters. Debris can build up, restricting the flow of water and potentially leading to home damage if not taken care of While you can find someone to take care of the job for you, cleaning the gutters yourself can save you a nice chunk of money. So, what do you need to keep in mind while tackling this task? 
- Follow proper safety protocol! This means wearing the appropriate safety gear, including long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, closed-toe shoes, gardening gloves, and safety glasses. This will help you avoid scratches, pest bites, and more. You never know when a wet clump of leaves contains an ant nest! Safety protocol also means being smart when getting up to your gutters; DO NOT climb on the roof to clean the gutters – use a ladder.
- Follow the right procedure! Start by removing any material near the downspout and clearing any downspout strainers. Then clear out the upper gutters by the handful, removing any large debris collections. Then, using a water hose, flush the gutters and downspouts. At this point, any clogs should reveal themselves. Feed your water hose down the pipe and turn the water on full blast; be sure not to stand at the end of the gutter least you get a face full of gutter gunk! Make sure to give your gutters one last flush.
- Repair any leaks! During the last flush, keep an eye out for any leaks or drips. Repair the area if possible. If not, be sure to replace the gutter piece within a few weeks. Leaks can lead to system shut down, gutter collapse, and other issues.