How To Clean Gutters With A Back Pack Blower
Cleaning gutters does not come with a guide in buying homes. Regular maintenance is vital so your house can endure all 4 seasons. If you have never cleaned your gutters, you are in the right place. The quickest way to clean your gutters is by using a good leaf blower, more specifically, a backpack leaf blower.
After purchasing the appropriate back pack blower for your home, take note of this guide to make your cleaning experience even better. Where do you start? What precautions should one keep in mind? How can you get the most out of your backpack leaf blowers? We will answer all your questions here. Let’s start!
Why Do You Need to Clean Gutters
Your gutters, like your pool and lawn, require regular maintenance, although it is probably the most overlooked part of your house. However, scheduled gutter maintenance should be performed on a regular basis because it will not clean itself, and not doing will result in a much worse issue.
It could be dirt, leaves, dead animals, or a wasp nest - the list of potential clogs for your gutter or downpipe is endless. It only takes one small thing to trigger a far worse catastrophe for your home.
Schedule a gutter cleaning at least twice a year. This, however, is dependent on where you live. If you live in an area with a lot of trees, you should schedule gutter cleanings with a back pack blower more frequently.
This is also dependent on the type of trees that surround your property. Pine needles from pine trees fall regularly and have a high probability of clogging your gutter. In that case, it is better to clean your gutters every few months.
What You’ll Need to Clean Gutters with a Back Pack Blower
Aside from choosing the best back pack blower, you need also be prepared with the following items to clean your gutters in the quickest, most convenient, and safest way possible.
Ladder
The height of the ladder plays an important role. How high is your rooftop? If it is higher than the usual, then consider using an extension ladder. An extension ladder allows two levels of ground support to the top support. It is also recommended to have another person hold the ladder from the ground.
Protective gear
Wear proper protective equipment from gloves, helmet, shoes, ear protection, goggles to harness. When cleaning your gutters, anything may happen. You may fall from the ladder and hurt your eyes or ears. By wearing protective equipment, you can ensure that you are protecting yourself as much as possible.
What Back Pack Blower Should You Use to Clean Gutters?
Choosing the right leaf blower is also crucial in this operation. With plenty of leaf blowers in the market, how do you make sure you have chosen the best one for cleaning your gutters?
The most appropriate one is a backpack blower, which works best in cleaning gutters because it has the portability and convenience to reach your gutters. Our best-selling backpack leaf blower is the SCHRÖDER SR-6400L 63.3 cc, designed with German engineering. It stands out because of how powerful it is.
It is also equipped with 2-stroke gasoline engine with 63.3 cc, 3.7 HP that gives an incredibly high airspeed, effortlessly clearing all dry and wet debris. Because of the powerful airflow, the SCHRÖDER SR-6400L can also be used for applications other than residential.
A Schröder leaf blower in your storage will help you clear away all of the dry and wet debris, not only in your gutter, but also in your garden, lawn, and yard. A back pack blower can remove and collect all of the debris that needs to be removed without taking up too much of your time or energy.
Given the design of Schröder SR 6400L, which is designed with a powerful engine that can be used for a variety of creative purposes in addition to collecting all of the dry leaves on your land, its price remains competitive.
What is a Good MPH and CFM for a Back Pack Blower for Gutters?
In choosing a back pack blower for gutters, examining MPH and CFM is vital. CFM, or Cubic Feet per Minute, refers to how powerful a leaf blower is and will affect the power of the leaf blower. If it has a lower CFM, the leaf blower will not be able to move as much air.
The usual leaf blowers have a range of 200 - 700 CFM, and the higher the CFM is, the faster the air can be blown out. Our SR-6400L has a 920 CFM, so rest assured that it will do the job well.
Airspeed is also taken into consideration in choosing the best backpack blower. A good requirement is about 190 MPH. This is exceeded by SR-6400L, which again has 230 MPH. Check out the backpack leaf blower reviews.
Steps to Cleaning Gutters with a Back Pack Blower
Over time, small debris will accumulate in gutter guards who have been doing quite a great job in preventing leaves from getting into the gutters. Now, all you need to do is to clean them thoroughly. The process is straightforward as it is similar to using a back pack blower on the ground. There are just a few additions to keep note of.
Here is a step-by-step process on how to clean your gutters the best way possible with a back pack blower:
Step 1
Tie a rope to the backpack blower securely. Also, measure that your rope is at least as long as the gutter height.
Step 2
Set your ladder to access the gutters. Make sure it is stable before taking the end of the rope and safely climbing to the top.
This time, you can stay on the ladder or climb onto the roof. The former is always the best option, but don’t forget to start the back pack blower prior to climbing up, as this avoids throwing off balance when you start it once you’ve climbed up.
Step 3
Carefully raise the leaf blower using your rope. However be cautious, especially if you are going to stay on the ladder. Pulling the back pack blower up to you might cause you to lose your balance. It is best to have someone else at the bottom of the ladder because they can simply hand you the leaf blower.
Step 4
Starting near the downspout is a good idea because this will prevent material from clogging the downspout. Walk along the edge carefully and put the end of the backpack blower at an angle into the gutter and blow out the dirt, leaves, and other debris as you go.
Another way to clean your gutters is using an extension piece for your leaf blower, which allows you to clean while standing on ground level. However, you must use a helmet, hearing protection, and goggles for this process and a tarp, because the dirt, debris, and leaves will blow out and fall on you.
Safety Tips when Cleaning Gutters with a Back Pack Blower
As the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. Gutters are not the best and safest place to be, so you need to take extra precautions when cleaning gutters with a back pack blower.
Here is a list of safety tips the next time you schedule a time to clean your gutters:
- Avoid leaning “downhill” if you want to reach the gutter.
- Use an extension ladder, especially for accessing high rooftops.
- Wear gloves for hand protection and goggles for eye protection.
- Start by clearing debris with a leaf blower from the roof to avoid gutter clogging when it rains.
- Don’t clean your gutter with a leaf blower alone. Get another person who can hold the ladder.
- Clear our downspouts by using a flexible rod with a brush. Also, don’t forget to run water through the downspout to ensure that it is clear.