Fall Gutter Cleaning Safety Tips

Maintaining your gutters can help protect your home from rainwater damage. Leaves and other debris can clog gutters and redirect rainfall, causing potential issues with your roof, walls, windows, foundation, and landscape. Here are some tips to safely clean your gutters this fall:

• Understand the basics of ladder safety.
• Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from loose debris.
• Wear heavy work gloves to protect your hands from sharp or dangerous debris.
• Use proper tools:
• A trowel or gutter scoop for removing debris.
• Two buckets—one for holding your tools and the other for collecting debris.

Other general tips include:

• Cleaning your gutters in dry weather—dry debris is easier to clean than wet debris.
• Using a garden hose after clearing debris to rinse remaining dirt, directing the flow of water towards the downspout to clear potential blockages.

Regular maintenance helps prolong the life of your gutters, but gutters occasionally require repairs or replacement. Search for cracks, rust, pools of water, mold, leaks, and sagging when cleaning your gutters. Gutters only help protect your home if they are working properly!

NJM Insurance Group’s Commitment to Safety

NJM’s enduring commitment to safety can be traced back to our earliest days — with a focus that has expanded from improving conditions in manufacturing facilities to helping keep customers safe on the roads and at home. NJM is a leader in personal and commercial auto, homeowners, and workers’ compensation insurance.

References:

1. “How to Clean Gutters,” (Oct. 9, 2024) The Home Depot, https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-clean-gutters/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90ce752a5b.

2. Wayne Lundstrom and Mark Fullen, “Gutter Safety,” (May 23, 2017) West Virginia University Extension, https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/home-safety/gutter-safety.