Cleaning seamless rain gutters is a dangerous job, not one recommended for the do-it-yourselfer.  Often, the sight of someone falling off a ladder or roof brings us laughter, but that’s only in the movies.  Unfortunately, in real life, falling off a ladder or roof can cause a lot of bodily harm, even death.  There are too many things that can go wrong if you attempt to clean your gutters yourself.  Without taking the proper precautions, you can put yourself and other people at risk.  In our many years of experience providing seamless guttering in Redding, California, we’ve heard it all.  Our gutter specialists know how to do the job right, the safe way.  Today, we’re going to share the biggest mistakes to avoid when cleaning your gutters yourself.

  1. Putting Convenience Ahead of Safety

Climbing to the second level of your home to clean your seamless rain gutters can be a very difficult to do.  Gutter professionals—like ours here at OrCal Seamless Rain Gutters—use harnesses to get the job done right, along with the proper gutter cleaning equipment.  If you have a steep pitched roof or one that is difficult to reach, you need to plan for safety—not convenience.  Never (and we’re greatly emphasizing the word NEVER) place a stepladder on the roof of your home so you can reach the second level.  You need an extension ladder that can reach the second story from the ground to prevent a hazard.

  1. Not Having Someone Hold the Ladder

Stepladders can be very dangerous for homeowners because they give a false sense of security.  Yes, the stepladder might be braced against your home, but there is nothing stopping it from moving sideways.  You need to have a spotter hold the ladder for you, no matter what type of ladder you’re using.  They need to hold the ladder from the ground to prevent it from moving and you from slipping.

  1. Overreaching

Ladders aren’t lightweight.  Since ladders are heavy equipment that proves awkward to transport, it might be tempting for you to reach out as much as you can so you don’t have to move the ladder.  Don’t do it!  Lean too much to one side and you’re going to be on the ground.  Instead, you need to climb down and reposition the ladder closer to your work area.

  1. Not Inspecting the Ladder Beforehand

A ladder should be inspected for cracks and broken parts before using it.  Failure to do so can cause severe injury, and no one wants that.

  1. Wearing the Wrong Shoes

When moving up and down a ladder, you need to wear clean shoes that have rubber soles; otherwise, you run the risk of slipping and falling.

Taking the right precautions when cleaning your rain gutters will make the difference between you enjoying the night with your family or spending it in the hospital.  For many individuals, cleaning their gutters is just too risky and not worth the chance, and it’s pretty clear to see why.

For homeowners who are not comfortable with the idea of cleaning their own gutters, we’re the company for you.  From gutter cleaning to full rain gutter installation, OrCal Seamless Rain Gutters will take care of maintenancing your gutters so you can forget about climbing up the ladder and risking personal injury.  For all your guttering needs, contact us at 530-410-4395 and ask for a FREE quote today!