What is the danger of clogged drains and gutters?

Neglecting to clean drains and pipes leads to a number of problems that can damage the drainage system and harm the home.

Dampening of walls and washing away of the foundation

The accumulated debris blocks the storm drain, water accumulates from the entire roof and flows down in one place. Consequently, the foundation is washed away, as well as the penetration of water into the house through walls and ceilings. This leads to the appearance of wet spots and dampness, as a result of which a major overhaul in the room will have to be done.

Drainage structure failure

In pipes clogged with debris, water accumulates and creates a load on the plastic parts of the drain, this will lead to their breakage, and at any second the structure may collapse.

Spread of diseases and pests

The accumulated wet debris will become a suitable environment for the growth of moss and mold. Pathogenic bacteria, fungi and even insect larvae will multiply in it, and in summer they will infect plants in the garden and vegetable garden.

Debris buildup can cause a fire

In summer, straw, dry leaves and branches get on the roofing, pieces of fabric and bird feathers can be carried by the wind. In hot weather, plant residues dry out on the roof very quickly, and the coating heated in the sun can cause fire and fire.

To avoid malfunctions and emergency conditions of the drainage system, and to ensure its smooth operation, it is necessary to properly and regularly clean the gutters and pipes.

The Best Ways to Clean Gutters

Before you start cleaning gutters and drains, they should be filled with water from a hose. Strong pressure will help determine how the system copes with water flows in a downpour, as well as soften the dried dirt, and it will be easier to clean it later.

Gutter robot application

There are special devices that make cleaning less labor-intensive, and also significantly speed up the process. For greater convenience, a robotic mechanism is used. But it is intended only for cleaning gutters.

The robot is 56 cm long, 13 cm wide and 8 cm high, and weighs no more than 1 kg.

It can determine the degree of contamination, which makes it possible to determine the number of passes for a complete cleaning. It can clean wet obstructions and can also be used in gutters filled with water. In 5 minutes of work, it will cope with 9 meters of drainage.

Special brushes with telescopic handle

For manual and emergency cleaning, special gutter brushes can be used. The advantage of such a device is that it can be cleaned from the ground. The tool is equipped with a telescopic handle, which has a length of up to 5 meters. Also, the brush has an adjustable angle, which allows you to get into hard-to-reach places to remove debris from the drainage protective nets.

She can work from the stairs, or from the roof, if the height of the house is more than two floors. For work at height, you must follow the safety rules, use a mounting belt and reliable fasteners.

Blowing out downpipes and gutters

Cleaning the pipes with brushes is not possible, as downpipes have many bends. If they are clogged, purging with a powerful air stream helps a lot.

This can be done with a leaf blower in the garden. It comes in three types: electric, battery, or gasoline. The blower should be used in dry weather so that the debris is dried. A battery powered device is best, as it is lighter, more convenient, and not tied to wires. The blower creates a powerful directional air flow in the pipe, which pushes the debris out.

How to properly bleed downpipes

Blowing can be done from below, without going up to the roof, but debris from above can fly a lot, and this is dangerous, you need to work in a helmet and goggles, and protect the area around from children and bystanders. When working from the roof, it is recommended to install a bucket below to catch debris.

To clean the gutters of low houses from dry leaves, you can also use a blower with a special nozzle. The garbage is simply blown out by the pressure of air from the drain. This method is very convenient for quickly removing fallen leaves in the fall, but is only productive in dry weather. Air will not be able to clean adhering dirt, so it is not suitable for global cleaning of gutters https://windowwashingexpert.com/gutter-cleaning/gutters-drains-northbrook/.

Cleaning gutters and drainage systems with improvised means

If there are no necessary tools nearby, you can carry out high-quality cleaning with the help of tools that are always at hand. To get started, prepare everything you need for work:

• ladder;
• scoop or wooden spatula, suitable for the size of the gutter;
• garbage bag;
• protective gloves for hands.

For greater stability and safety, you should take a folding ladder with additional fasteners and supports. A scoop can be made from an ordinary plastic bottle by cutting a semicircle that will repeat the shape of the gutter.

To prevent the gutters from becoming clogged, use special visors for gutter systems, this will save you from grueling procedures for cleaning. And the installed removable grate in the funnel of the pipe will protect it from clogging.