The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Here is a Gutter Cane Being used  As you can see, there is no way you can get equal flow on BOTH Downspouts.

We bag 80% of the time, we clean out gutters 100% of the time, then we rinse and flush the gutters out and dilute the run off. About 75% of the time we rinse the bottom 2-3 shingles and then rinse the gutters. This does not increase productivity, but helps control the downside of potential damage.

Someday some neighbor will video tape us on a job or something will happen out of our control and we will be prepared to defend our process.

We use em and make em out of the electrical pvc, the grey stuff. We dont use them all the time. But there are applications when you cant use a bag. If its a large property and the gutters go into the ground, we run a gutter cane for 10 minutes then scout the lawn for a puddle.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

---

We use em and make em out of the electrical pvc, the grey stuff. We dont use them all the time. But there are applications when you cant use a bag. If its a large property and the gutters go into the ground, we run a gutter cane for 10 minutes then scout the lawn for a puddle.

---

 Yeah, they are easy to make out of soft PVC, no need to pay 100 dollars for one. 

I also make mine out of the electrical pvc. I have had bags break on me and it was a disaster, if there is expensive plant life, at a downspout sure put a bag underneath. But I find it very simple using a Y valve between the gutter cane and my ground guy.

First run some water in the gutter.
Second hose the plants.
Third do the bottom 3 feet and the roof edge, have the ground guy watering.
Fourth Gutter cane wide open for the rest of the roof.

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:

---

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

---

We use em and make em out of the electrical pvc, the grey stuff. We dont use them all the time. But there are applications when you cant use a bag. If its a large property and the gutters go into the ground, we run a gutter cane for 10 minutes then scout the lawn for a puddle.

---

 Yeah, they are easy to make out of soft PVC, no need to pay 100 dollars for one. 

---

 I got mine at Lowes for about $20. I only use it for flushing out gutters

There are a couple of schools of thought for using gutter canes. One way that is advocated by a commercial manufacturer of them is to plug the downspouts and let the water and spent love waterfall over the entire gutter line. This will effectively disperse the chemical and avoid the issue of the water favoring one downspout over another.

Theres a couple of ways to use them, but the important thing whether they are a part of your arsenal or not is to put lots of water on the plants!

sweefun placeerfish wrote:

---

There are a couple of schools of thought for using gutter canes. One way that is advocated by a commercial manufacturer of them is to plug the downspouts and let the water and spent love waterfall over the entire gutter line. This will effectively disperse the chemical and avoid the issue of the water favoring one downspout over another.

Theres a couple of ways to use them, but the important thing whether they are a part of your arsenal or not is to put lots of water on the plants!

---

 Sometimes, you can "get away" with plugging the downspouts with a football or a sponge. There was a once well known roof cleaning company from Orlando, who made the decision to come here into the Tampa Roof Cleaning Market. These clowns were cleaning a tile roof with gutters, right next to an almost identical house we were doing.

We watched them plug up the downspouts, and hang gutter canes up on the gutters. The one idiot started cleaning the roof, while his ground Man sat and watched.

Suddenly, the one gutter bent and crashed down to the ground, unable to hold all that weight, from all that water. 

Here is an article below from a Gutter Repair Guy in Houston, who warns about what can happen when a gutter becomes clogged, and fills with water.

We think you will look pretty stupid in small claims court, explaining why you intentionally stopped up and caused the failure of a gutter system , by plugging all the downspouts with sponge footballs!

Gutter and downspout cleaning is often overlooked but should be a very important part of your regular home maintenance. It should be performed at least once if not twice a year; in the spring and again in the fall. To cut down on the amount of debris that gets trapped in your gutters, make sure that trees and tall bushes are not touching or hanging over the house. Houses that have large trees surrounding it should have the gutters cleaned more regularly to remove the extra leaves, debris and dirt build up. Doing this can save the integrity of the home and prevent the need for costly repairs. Most people never realize they have a problem with their gutters until it is too late.

During heavy rains, gallons of water flow off the average roof area.  Gutters and downspouts are key elements in protecting your property. The main reason gutters exist is to catch water from the roof and keep it away from the home’s foundation. The downspouts assist inpreventing water from pooling beside your foundation and seeping into it. Dirt cloggedgutters or misplaced downspouts are the most common problems. If gutter not installed,installed improperlys are or they are blocked and overflowing there are various types of costly damage that can be a result. Dirty or missing gutters can cost you crackedfoundations, leaky roofs, water damaged rotted wood, potential fires, ceiling & wall leaks, sagging driveways, collapsed gutters, destroyed landscaping, termites, hazardous mold growth, insect and rodent infestations.

1.    Foundation - The falling water can quickly erode the soil ate the base of the external walls.  Moisture in a structure's foundation leads to exterior cracks in the brick and motar.  This water cab eventually undermine the foundation which can lead to huge structural problems.

2.    Collapsed Gutters - Blocked gutters retain too much water and become heavy; the weight can cause the gutter to become detached from the fascia and possibly damage the home's siding and roofing. Plugged downspouts allow hundreds of pounds of water to build up in your gutters which can easily cause them to fall down onto anything underneath!

3.    Fires - In hot climates like we have in Houston, TX, large amounts of dry leaves left in gutters can create a fire hazard. It is very important to have gutters cleaned before warmer summer months because debris builds up in the gutters during winter, then dries out in the hot sun in summer and may catch on fire. It can also can cause electrical fires or shock if water backs up into the ceiling space and roof eaves.

4.    Termites – Roof beams, timbers and wood wall studs can get wet in the cavity of your walls which can attract termites and carpenter ants. Termites are looking for wet places to build colonies. Clogged gutters are the perfect environment for them to get a foot-hold to your home so that they can begin the process of destruction.

5.    Landscaping - Gutters and spouts filled with water can damage and ruin landscaping by leaking over the plants in a garden. Too much water to the plants cuts off oxygen from them and causes them to die. The excess water also causes diseases in plants such as Crown Rot, Root Rot and damping off.

6.    Hazardous Mold - When moisture seeps into a house it also encourages the growth of mold, which can seriously affect your health like allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Once the problem begins, it is a difficult one to combat. It spreads quickly and can begin to destroy the surfaces it resides on. Another nasty side effect of a mold problem is the musty smell this substance produces.

7.    Water Damaged Wood - Clogged gutters can cause leaking. When the water leaks from the gutter it can damage the paint and rot the siding, fascia & window sills that exists around your house; brick and vinyl siding may start to rust. Gutters also protect the underneath side of your roof from getting water in there and doing more damage.

8.    Insects and Pests - Standing water in gutters not only causes damage to the structure of the home, it can also attract bugs and other pests. It can provide a good nesting ground and food source for unwanted pests. Because most insects thrive on moisture and humidity, unclean gutters full of water are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can pose a health hazard to both people and animals because they are carriers of several unwanted diseases.

9.    Leaky Roofs, Ceilings & Walls – During spring months, leaves may have fallen on your rooftop because of storms and strong winds. Trees around your house may bear flowers and fruits along with dead twigs. Also, birds may build or leave behind their nests and waste on your roof.  If your gutters are already full with leaves and debris, this begins to build up on the roof which eventually will start to gather water or moisture which in turn breaks down the shingles on your roof. This can causeunexpected leaks that can ruin the interior of your home.

You can cut down on the amount of debris in your gutters by getting gutter guards installed.  Gutter guards can help to minimize how much gutter cleaning will be necessary. There are many types of gutter guards but they are all designed to prevent leaves and large pieces of debris from building up in the downspouts and gutters to allow rainwater to flow unimpeded. Gutter guards also prevent birds and rodents from building nests in the gutters while still allowing the sun and water through. However, the installation of these guards can prevent some issues but does not mean cleaning can be avoided. Even with this system in place, maintenance will remain necessary annually.

Instead of waiting for the drains to overflow and to notice that they aren’t keeping water off the roof very well, it is best to schedule regular maintenance in order to clean the system and keep it running smoothly. If you can't do it regularly, check your downspouts during a rainstorm. If they don't seem to be flowing well, it's probably time to clean your gutters.Sir Fix-A-Lot cleans, maintains, repairs & installs gutters for residential homes and businesses in Houston, TX.  If you are having issues with your gutters and downpipes such as leaking, clogging, missing, improperly installed, rust, sagging or joints separating, Sir Fix-A-Lot willbe able to correct whatever the issue is.

Should you pay around $75* for gutter cleaning and repair today or hundreds maybe thousands when your gutter issues becomes a total house problem?

Our handyman services can assist with:

       ·   Gutter and downspout repair and/or replacement

       ·   Installing gutter guards

       ·   Gutter and downspout cleaning

       ·   Replacing or repairing damaged fascia & drip edge/eaves (metal flashing- edge of roofline)

       ·   Inspect exterior for water damage or problem areas

We can also establish a maintenance schedule where together we determine what your needs are, whether a fall and spring visit will be sufficient or if there is a need to service your gutters more often. Obviously, regular gutter and downspout maintenance will keep your gutters cleaned out and prevent water from backing up and causing substantial damage. The water will be able to flow smoothly through the gutter channel, out the downspouts and away from your home.

Get your gutter issues corrected today; call Sir Fix-A-Lot at 409-526-8393 for efficient gutter maintenance services. We can take care of all of your home repair maintenance services in Houston, TX. Our services are available to residents of Bellaire, River Oaks, Stafford, Missouri City, Sugarland, Richmond, Katy, Pearland and Houston, TX.

            *based on size of project

 

 

 

Good Idea Brian. You come up with some good stuff. I think the Pine soap started with you.