Watch Out…for These Four Gutter Cleaning Dangers
While your gutters are critical, are you aware of the most known and unknown gutter cleaning dangers? When they do their job correctly, gutters carry water away from the house before it can overflow onto sidewalks, back up into the house itself or create some other damage or hazard.
On the other hand, gutters that do not empty properly can damage your home by creating a mess in your landscaping, creating icy spots during cold weather, and even damaging the eaves, soffit, walls, and foundation of your home.
Instead of allowing these costly and potentially dangerous outcomes to be your reality, it's best to have your gutters cleaned by the experienced professionals at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island. Most importantly, you should avoid attempting to clean your gutters because of the following gutter cleaning dangers.
Gutter Cleaning Dangers Associated with Setup
Unlike simpler chores at ground level, cleaning gutters involves a number of steps *wink* that can each lead to an accident. First you'll have to bring out your ladder, which may not be in good condition and is definitely heavy and awkward to handle. And anytime a ladder is involved, there are an abundance of things that can go wrong, which typically lead to emergency room visits.
Next you'll need to carry a number of tools up the ladder in case repairs are needed. Taking a heavy hammer to a height of 15 feet and accidentally dropping it on your car, or worse - your helper, is not a good situation. Add in a drill, screwdriver, and other tools, and it only gets worse, and that's assuming you have every tool you need when you start—which never happens. Your extra trips up and down the ladder add to the dangers of setup.
Gutter Cleaning with Ladders Can Lead to Disaster
Did you know the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons report that more than 500,000 people fall from ladders every year, and 300 of those incidents are fatal. And 97% occur at home or on farms. Any type of ladder work is dangerous, and the hazards become even greater when you're working outside.
It's one thing to stand on the second rung of a stepladder that's set up on your kitchen floor. It's something totally different to use an extension ladder outside your house on a grassy surface or slippery deck.
Those soft, slippery surfaces are just not safe for ladders. In fact, even those of us in the industry can still get the jitters going up and down these ladders. And even if your ladder is rock-steady on the ground, you may have it leaned up against a slick vinyl surface that will not provide adequate support. Finally, the water and wet leaves you remove from your gutter could make the rungs extremely slick and hazardous.
Gutter Cleaning Is Innately Dangerous
From the ground, your gutters probably look nice and smooth. If so, this means your installer did a nice job. However, the inside of the gutters and downspouts is a different story. These key components were installed using sheet metal screws, with the points often still exposed inside the gutters and downspouts. In fact, these little obstructions are often where a clog gets started, and that's right where you'll be putting your hand if you clean them.
Gutters are formed from sheet metal. The rolled edges and cut ends of the gutters are sharp as well. As you fumble about trying to pull leaves from the gutter, you will undoubtedly encounter some of these unpleasant surfaces, cutting your skin and possibly causing you to fall from the ladder.
DIY Gutter Cleaning Can Become Very Expensive
Let's say you make it through all these steps without any big problems. You don't drop a hammer on your kid, you don't fall off the ladder, and you don't slice open your palm on a raw gutter edge. That's great —but that's not the end of the risk.
Cleaning your own gutters means you may not have placed the ladder in the best spot. You may have bent your gutters, creating a visible dimple that you can't ignore. Your ladder might have also chipped your masonry or warped your vinyl siding. It could have scratched off paint, cracked a window, or killed some unfortunate plants below.
You might shift the gutter and cause it to come off pitch and cause water to go where you don’t want it to. In the end, there is just too much that can go wrong. And even if you manage to stay safe, it's far too easy to cause extensive damage to the gutter system or other parts of your home. Sometimes, oftentimes, attempting to save a quick buck can cost you more in the end.
Avoid the Dangers of Gutter Cleaning with the Experienced Team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island
Everybody loves to do things themselves, but some things are better left to the pros. And gutter cleaning is one of those tasks. Instead of placing yourself, family, and bank account directly in harm's way, it's best to contact the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island for experienced gutter cleaning. We're equipped, trained, and professional, ready to get your gutters cleaned safely and effectively while you take on a more appropriate DIY job.
Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island today to avoid the real dangers of gutter cleaning.
