Cleaning gutters is a job no one looks forward to, but the good news is that there are ways to make the task a lot easier, and one of those ways is a top-notch pressure washer. Pressure washers with the right pounds-per-square-inch (PSI) number can eliminate the debris inside of your gutters in no time, and finding these washers is a piece of cake.
In fact, when it comes to the PSI number, you only need about 1,500 PSI to properly clean your gutters, and those are always easy to find. Even better, pressure washers that offer this amount of power are usually very inexpensive, so you can easily get just what you need to get great-looking gutters in the end without breaking the bank.
What to Look for in a Pressure Washer for Gutter Cleaning
First of all, you’ll want to get a telescoping or extension wand for your pressure washer so that you can walk around the house and work on your gutters without being on a ladder. In fact, it is highly recommended that you never stand on a ladder while you’re using any type of pressure or power washer.
Why? Because the water pressure from the washer can be very powerful and in fact, it can cause you to lose your balance and maybe even fall off of the ladder. So, when you’re cleaning your gutters it is always best not to be standing on a ladder if your goal is to be as safe as possible.
A lower PSI is a good idea for gutter-cleaning jobs
Again, a pressure washer with a 1,500 PSI number is perfect for most gutter-cleaning jobs, and you can even go up to 2,000 PSI if you like, but you probably shouldn’t go any higher than that. This is because if your pressure washer has too much pressure, it might ruin the materials that make up the gutters, and it might also simply be too much rough pressure to do you any good.
In fact, anything more than 3,000 to 3,500 PSI is usually considered a commercial pressure washer and is intended for heavy-duty commercial jobs only, so they’ll provide too much pressure for most household chores.
You should also use detergent when cleaning out your gutters because dirt, grime, and dried-on debris is often difficult to clean on their own. Make sure you read the instructions in the user manual for the pressure washer itself or even the gutters if you still have one. As long as the cleaning materials are not specifically prohibited anywhere, you can use them to clean your gutters.
Gutter wands usually have color-coded tips that offer different angles so that you can get every crack and crevice of the item you’re cleaning, and if these don’t come with your pressure washer, you can easily get a kit that contains everything you need to turn your regular pressure washer into one made to get gutters super clean.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These frequently asked questions can help familiarize you a little better with the gutter-cleaning process and using pressure washers.
How are the adjustable extension wands sold?
They are sold in 12-, 18-, and 24-foot options, with the latter being best if you own a two-story house.
Is cleaning gutters done just for aesthetic purposes?
No. In fact, neglecting your gutters can cause backups, overflowing of water, sagging or breaking of the gutters, and even water flowing back into your home, all of which can be expensive to remedy.
Should I clean the gutters myself or hire a professional for the job?
That is up to you, but there are plenty of high-quality, inexpensive pressure washers on the market today that can easily accommodate the job.
When should I clean the gutters on my home?
The best time is in late fall or early winter after most of the leaves have fallen but before the ice and snow hit. You should also clean your gutters at least once a year – twice is even better.
Is it safe to pressure-wash your gutters?
As long as you do not stand on a ladder and you use a PSI of no more than 2,000, using pressure washers to clean your gutters is perfectly safe.
Conclusion
Finding a high-quality pressure washer to clean your gutters is simple because you only need one that is 1,500 to 2,000 PSI, and those are easy to find. They are also easy to use for the most part, especially if you use an extension wand and the right spray tip so that you can walk around your gutters without using a ladder.
Gutters that are cleaned once or twice a year can remain clean for a very long time, and these cleanings will ensure the gutters will remain in excellent condition year after year. Gutters are expensive to install, so cleaning them properly will help keep them around much longer.
