Summer is just about over, and that means fall is on its way in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. When autumn arrives, so does the dropping of the leaves and other foliage. Where does all that flora go? You guessed it, straight into your gutters! This can cause problems and even cause you to need gutter repairs. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top four great gutter cleaning tips for fall.  

1. Trim back foliage and branches 

With all the rainwater from summer storms, trees proliferate rapidly. Branches can overhang over your gutter troughs and cause leaves, twigs, and seeds to fall in. When autumn arrives, make sure to trim back branches and any foliage to prevent the gutters from becoming clogged or worse, damaged from a falling tree branch.  

2. Hire a professional

Just as you would call for a professional to perform HVAC maintenance, chimney repairs, power washing, simple remodeling, exterior painting, or roofing repairs, you want to do the same when cleaning out your gutters for fall. If you are a novice and have never performed gutter cleaning before or you do not have the knowledge or time to complete the task, hire a professional team or a local handyman with experience to finish the job for you.  

3. Go slow and be thorough

The best tip you can receive when cleaning out your gutters in the fall is to take your time and do it right! First thing, before starting gutter cleaning, inspect your gutters for any damage or any gutter repairs that are needed and make sure you correct those issues before fall and winter set in.  

Also, make sure you have an assistant to help you when cleaning out the gutters as someone needs to help hold the ladder and retrieve items that may have been forgotten. A helper is also there in case you have an injury while cleaning out the gutters. They could get you back in the house or call for help if needed. Lastly, wear gloves and use your hands to take the majority of debris out. At the end of the process, the trough should be empty, and water should flow well through the drainage system.  

4. Install leaf guards

The last great tip you can use is to install leaf guards over your troughs. This way you will have to clean out the gutters much less than without leaf protectors. Just remember that when you go to have your troughs cleaned out after leaf guard installation, the professional team will have to clean your gutters as they need to take down and then re-install the lead guards each time the gutters are cleaned in the future.  

As you can see, there are multiple tips to cleaning your gutters this fall in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Whether you do it yourself and take your time or you hire a professional team, your gutters will be in tip-top shape without any gutter repairs needed. If you follow our advice on the top four great gutter cleaning tips for fall, your Cincinnati home will be ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store this autumn!