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Gutter Cleaning Process

Required pre-requisite knowledge:

ladder safety, loading in unloading the truck, work space safety, customer interaction experience, hose management, gutter cleaning training

Job Checklist:

  1. Walk around home to view all gutters, remove any hazards, and identify hose spigots
  2. Setup Hoses & Ladder
  3. Gather tools:
    1. Bucket with hook
    2. Gutter scoop
    3. Spray valve
    4. Garbage bag
    5. Gloves
    6. Leaf blower
  4. Clean upper gutters and valleys first
  5. Start by the downspout, clear all debris by hand and place into the gutter bucket,
    1. Do not throw debris on the ground unless you have permission from the client
    2. Bag bucket debris or discard in a predetermined disposal area
  6. Flush downspouts and remove all clogs, ensure that water is flowing out of the downspout
  7. Rinse all gutters (upper gutters don’t have to be absolutely spotless, must be free of tree debris and mud)
  8. Ensure that the gutter fascia is clear of mud, debris, and handprints
    1. Spray with a hose or scrub with the housewash brush
  9. Move to lower gutters
  10. Repeat Steps 5-7
  11. Ensure that all gutters that can be seen inside of from an upper window are “clean enough to eat out of”
  12. Remove all debris that has gathered at the end of the downspout from flushing
  13. When finished cleaning the gutters, pack up all tools, hoses, and ladders
  14. Leaf blow entire work area
    1. Make sure all walkways, porches, and decks are free of debris
    2. Leave it cleaner than when you arrived
  15. Report back to the customer when finished and inform of gutter conditions and any issues
    1. Are there any leaks at the gutter seams?
    2. Any missing gutter hangers or gutters pulling away from home?
    3. Is there any pooling of water in the gutters?
    4. Are the gutters pitched towards the downspout and drain properly?
    5. Did you notice any issues with the roof (holes, damage)

Gutter cleaning step by step: (revision needed)

Disposing of gutter debris: bag or place in customer approved bin, compost area, off site area on property or garbage can (in bags if in can. If leaving bags for the client, bags should not weigh more than 25lbs – 5 gal of wet debris or shingle grit, 10-15+ gal of dry debris. Reuse salvageable bags for the next job.

Rinse all buckets when done. Reattach customers garden hoses.

Clear debris from end of downspout and the ground. Leaf blow the walkways and driveways around the home, rinse if necessary. Leave it cleaner than when you arrived.

Rinsing the gutters: work from the downspout and away, clearing the debris and rinsing it towards the downspout. Don’t rinse it all at once trying to push the whole pile forward. Rinse in phases pushing the big debris first and then the residual debris. Not all bits of dirt or shingle grit must be removed, but if the gutter is visible from a window or above, it must be spotless. Make sure no dirt or leaves are on the gutter fascia or visible from the ground – the client will see one leaf resting on the gutters edge and assume it’s still dirty. Ensure that when flushing the downspout that you are visually inspecting the water as it exits the downspout at the ground. If water is not leaving the downtown at the ground you may have a clog and may need to further flush the downspout and the clog it. Sometimes there can be a clog that is very slight where some water comes out but a lot will start the back up as well.

Try your hardest not to spray the customers windows and if any debris gets on the windows or siding be sure to rinse it off.

Gutter Process Explained:

Unlock lock from gutters ladders, remove chain, on why outfront I don’t grab onto your tiedown strap remove ladder from the truck, step on tire, step on bed of truck, bladder turn latter, if not using the first letter for this job, set the ladder on the grass out of the way of pedesteians and foot traffic. Get up and remove second letter if necessary, lift ladder, turn ladder, set the feet of the ladder on the ground and lean the ladder against the truck. Get onto the ground, transport ladder safely to work area. Set up the ladder. If walking away make sure to have the ladder set up with stand offs on the roof and ladder feet properly extended and placed on the ground. If windy or not In use for more than 5 minutes, collapse the ladder and set ladder on the ground. do not leave ladder unattended. Unreal the hose, unscrew from valve undo the knot, remove the entire length of the hose, attach garden hose ball valve, and began to walk the hose to customer spigot, do not allow hose to cause a trip hazard, when attaching to customers spigot, remove customers hose, attach your hose, turn on the water. Walk hose to the starting point ladder. Return to the truck Gather gutter cleaning tools:put on PVC gloves, grab gutter scoop, grab gutter bucket, one or two garbage bags, and walk to latter, begin gutter cleaning. Choose your starting point, began cleaning upper levels of gutters first and then clean the lower gutters last. begin by working at the downspout removing any clogs and clearing any debris, then work your way away from the downspout. This allows you to clear the clog and then be able to flush the residual debris towards the downspout. Climb the ladder holding the gutters scoop, garden hose, and gutter bucket. Once you reach the top of the latter set down gutter scoop on the latter stand offs, hook gutter bucket onto latter stand off hook, and position hose as a loop around the top rung of the latter so it will stay there unassisted and won’t fall. Flushing the downspout: begin by removing any debris on and around the gutter at the downspout, flush downspout with hose, and sure that water flows entirely through the downspout and there are no blockages or water is not backing up. Observe water as it exit the downspout under the ground, once you go to the ground after renting the downspout and the entire gutter remove all of the debris that has accumulated at the downspout and rinse and clear customer property. If the downspouts do not exit onto the ground and drain into a underground drain or French drain, attempt to locate the end of the French drain and ensure water is flowing through the downspout and drain system. If the underground downspout runs into a sewer do not flush excess amount of debris such as leaves, pinecones seeds or asphalt shingle grit into the drain system as this can cause further issues and costlier clogs that we must fix.