How to clean gutters easily with your existing pressure washer?

How To Pressure Wash Gutters Properly? Wash like A Pro

If you don’t know how to clean gutters with a pressure washer yet, you are probably not making the best use of your pressure washer. Anyway, gutters are one of those things that you really should keep clean, but most people hate doing it because there’s so much work involved.

If you’ve ever tried cleaning them yourself, then you know how difficult it can be. It takes time and effort to remove debris from your gutters. But if you want to make sure that everything gets removed, then you’ll need some help. A pressure washer will allow you to easily clear out any clogs or buildups in your gutters without having to spend hours trying to scrape off the buildup manually.

Step 1:

To clean your gutters with a pressure washer, you’ll need to make sure that they’re free from any furniture or other items. Also, remove all plants and trees sitting close to the gutter. Make a pathway where you can walk through while cleaning so that nothing obstructs your path. It would be best to focus on what’s in front of you while cleaning, so make sure that you have plenty of clearance.

Step 2:

You’ll also need some gloves to protect your hands from any of the debris that may fall. Moreover, you need to wear long sleeves and full pants, as well. In addition, you’ll want to put on a pair of safety glasses in case any debris finds its way into your eyes.

Step 3:

Please turn on your pressure washer and make sure it’s ready to go. If you want, attach an extension or telescoping wand to your hose. It will enable you to reach high places without having to use a ladder. Using a pressure washer while on a ladder is not advised because the recoil might throw you off balance. However, utilizing a telescoping wand is the way to go. You can adjust how long it needs to be so that you can reach your targeted areas without having any issues with balance

Step: 4

Now that your pressure washer is ready to go, attach a gutter cleaning wand attached to the end of the telescoping wand. There are many different gutter wand attachments to choose from, but the most typical shape is a curved U-shaped attachment, which resembles a hook.

However, some wand attachments feature two horizontal nozzles, allowing water to be discharged on both the left and right sides. These are more efficient and powerful at cleaning gutters since they clean both gutter sides simultaneously.

Step: 5

Now that your attachments are on, you can begin cleaning. Make sure to hold the wand around three inches away and keep the spray nozzle pointed in a downward direction. It will allow the water to run down the gutters and clear out any of any debris buildup. If there are any stubborn pieces of leaves or twigs stuck inside, give them some extra time under high pressure until they dislodge

Keep in mind how powerful this machine is. If you aren’t careful, then you’ll damage not only gutters but also the siding and facades of your house or any other structure around it.

However, if you’re using the curved wand, then make sure that your spray is close enough to reach all sides of the gutter and clean everything in its path. You’ll want to go slowly but efficiently when cleaning gutters because this will allow you to be more thorough with how much debris gets removed from your property.

Moreover, you can use detergent to wash the gutters as it will loosen up the debris and make the cleaning faster. 

Step – 6

When finished cleaning the gutters, you need to clean the surface with the help of a pressure washer. Moreover, with the help of a water broom attachment with your washer, you can clean it more effectively.

Now turn off the pressure washer and detach the attachment from the telescoping wand. I hope you can now consider how to best dispose of all of the debris, depending on how much there is and how easy it is to remove it from the gutter with the help of a pressure washer.

Why a Pressure Washer is Essential to Clean Your Gutters?

When it comes to your gutters, a simple hose and ladder won’t cut it, especially when you have a lot of things in the way or if you can’t reach them. Instead, use a pressure washer to remove any debris from your gutters. The pressure washer will help to clean out your gutters of chemicals, mold, grease, and other particles.

Moreover, the pressure washer makes it easy to clean up difficult-to-reach areas that are hard for ladders to get into. So, to protect your home and surrounding foliage, you should clean your gutters with a pressure washer.

How much psi do I need to clean gutters?

The answer depends on the surface of the gutter you want to clean. Like, I have a pressure washer with about 1500 PSI, and it’s been working very well so far. Gutter cleaning isn’t hard at all as long as you know what pressure to apply. There’s no need to invest in a 3000 PSI pressure washer.

The higher the psi, the more force it delivers, so be careful with that, especially if the surface is fragile or sensitive. However, you might get a recommendation from others to use a 3000+ PSI pressure washer to clean your gutter. But you know best of what you’re working with. If it’s a delicate surface, do test out on an inconspicuous area first before doing the entire surface. Now you can easily understand how much psi do you need to clean gutters.

How Often Should I Pressure Wash Gutters?

Gutter damage is common in the Northeast. Your gutters have their work cut out for them from summer’s downpours to winter’s ice dams. One of the most important things you can do to protect your home is regularly clean your gutters. The frequency depends on where you live and what kind of weather you get.

Here are some general guidelines: How to clean gutters with pressure washer

1. In the city, you should plan on cleaning gutters every month or two in spring, and summer to remove debris from roof washing, lawn mowing and rainstorms

2. Living in a country where there is no street cleaning and less frequent rainfall, you can wait three to six months between cleanings.

3. In the city, where there is street cleaning and frequent rainfall, you should plan on pressure washing your gutters every two to three weeks. The severity of the weather determines the frequency.

4. In warmer climates or wet areas, you should power wash your gutters as often as once a month. It will help prevent algae and moss build-up, making your gutters more prone to damage.

5. If you have a lot of snow, it’s best to clean your gutters after. As the snow melts, it may erode leaves, dirt, and other debris stuck at the bottom of your gutter. The accumulation of snow, leaves, twigs, and other debris in your gutters can cause them to clog.

6. Please don’t forget to clean out the downspouts as well. If they’re filled with debris, water can build up and damage your foundation or sidewalk. In addition, if the end of the downspout is blocked, it won’t direct rainwater away from your home properly.

After a major storm, it’s beneficial to clean your gutters. They’ll catch more debris before it clogs or causes damage. However, if you wait too long between cleanings, they’ll fill up quickly.

Should I Use Detergent to Pressure Wash My Gutters?

Gutters help prevent excess water from accumulating on the ground. Without gutters, excess rainwater can cause your yard and foundation to flood. Sometimes your gutters need a little bit of extra care and cleaning. Thus a pressure washing can be a best solution to clean your gutter.

Pressure washing allows you to clean your gutters without getting up on a ladder, which makes the job both easier and safer. However, people often wonder whether or not they should add detergent when pressure washing their gutters.

The answer is “Yes.” Use detergent for this task; it will make the job much simpler. You risk damaging your gutters if you do not use detergent.

The detergent will help to break down the dirt and grime that can accumulate in your gutters, making it easier for them to be cleaned. However, make sure you only use a mild detergent solution designed for cleaning surfaces such as siding or even wood decks.

These solutions are environmentally-friendly and will not harm your gutters. Furthermore, detergents work by loosening the bond between dirt particles and surfaces; without it, you might end up having to use more water force than necessary to remove the grime.

Detergent recommended

What Kind Of Attachments Should I Use To Pressure Wash Gutters?

Gutters can become clogged with all kinds of debris over time, eventually overflowing and creating a mess around the foundation of your home. It’s a good idea to clean them out before they reach that point, or you may end up causing more damage than if you had just left everything alone.

Gutter cleaning is not difficult, but it can be dangerous. If you don’t want to risk falling off your roof while trying to grab something you dropped, then using an extension wand is the best idea. It will fix any safety concerns with cleaning up high, making it so much easier for you to reach all of those hard-to-get areas.

Related wands

To sum up, you can effectively clean your soffits and gutters with the help of a pressure washer. And it will help you to save your time as well as damage your property. So, this is high time to clean your gutters if you did not clean them yet.