Cleaning your gutters isn’t fun, but it’s essential to keeping your property well-maintained. If clearing out dead leaves by hand isn’t appealing, an alternative is gutter cleaning in Houston. Also called pressure washing, this cleaning technique is one of the best ways to maintain gutters in your house.
Why Choose Pressure Washing to Maintain Gutters on Your House?
So, what exactly is pressure washing? Well, instead of relying on harsh chemicals or acids to break down hardened dirt, a pressure wash utilizes the power of water. Special machines ramp up the water pressure to create a high-powered yet precise stream that blasts through the grime. Many companies prefer this cleaning method because it offers several advantages over scrubbing.
Pressure Washing Your Gutters is Fast
A power wash is much faster than scrubbing — no matter the surface. In fact, power washing technicians can finish jobs in a fraction of the time it would take to clean by hand.
It’s Thorough when Cleaning
The unfortunate truth is that you can only do so much by hand. There are stains that you can’t scrub away and areas that you can’t reach. However, a power washer has exponentially more power than a sponge or scraper and can easily get second stories.
Pressure Washing Your Gutters Means Less Time on a Ladder
Since power washers can send water a great distance, technicians don’t have to stand on a ladder to clean out gutters. Instead, they can wash smaller debris toward the downspout without leaving the ground. Less time on a ladder means a lower risk of accidents and a faster cleaning process.
What Are the Steps to Maintaining House Gutters with a Pressure Washer?
If you want to maintain gutters with a power washer, you first need to get the proper nozzle. One benefit of hiring a professional crew is that they’ll already have the necessary equipment on hand. Power washer nozzles designed explicitly for gutter and roof cleaning curve at the end, creating an arc of water.
So, once you schedule an appointment with a pressure washing company, what can you expect during cleaning? While the exact steps vary from team to team, here’s the general process.
Inspection of the Gutters
Any company that offers pressure washing for your house in Austin, TX, starts the job with a thorough inspection. Technicians need to verify that the area can withstand the pressure before they start cleaning, and an inspection also lets them determine the most effective approach.
Pre-Treatment to Loose Debris In Your Gutters
Some stains are more stubborn than others, so that technicians may pre-treat the following:
- Mold
- Mildew
- Tannin
Pre-treatment loosens these substances so the power washer can obliterate them without subjecting the area to extended exposure.
Cleaning and Pressure Washing Your Gutters
The most comprehensive step, of course, is cleaning. For gutters, that means removing large debris by hand to prevent clogs. The technicians also watch for any signs of bigger issues with your gutters or roof during this process. Next, the crew uses power washers to push the remaining water and smaller debris toward the downspout, leaving a pristine channel behind.
Review Finished Job on your Home
Once the cleaning is complete, technicians will give the area a last once-over to ensure everything is spotless. They’ll also check with you to ensure you’re happy with the results.
Why Is It Important to Maintain Your Gutters?
All owners should make it a priority to maintain gutters on their property. Gutter systems protect homes and businesses from rainwater, which can wreak havoc if not properly directed by the runoff spout. If you’re tempted to skip your biannual gutter cleaning, keep the following in mind.
Puddles Are Terrible for Your House’s Foundation
When gutters get too clogged, water overflows and puddles near the walls of your property. Over time, it’ll get absorbed into the ground. Typically, this isn’t an issue, but it can undermine the foundation when it happens too close to your home or business. A crumbling foundation means an unsteady structure and can be extremely expensive to fix.
Accumulated Water Can Damage Your Roof
Sometimes, water doesn’t just puddle on the ground — it also accumulates on your roof. Ponding water can get under the shingles, even loosening them if left long enough. The moisture can get into your property’s structure and cause water damage in the worst-case scenario.
Clogged Gutters Can Pull Away from the Eaves
When debris piles up in gutters, it gets heavy. Unfortunately, most gutter systems aren’t equipped to handle that weight. The gutters may start pulling away from the eaves if it becomes too much. Should the situation continue, the brackets holding the channels in place may give, sending water and leaves all over your lawn.
Overflowing Gutters Can Attract Pests into your Home
Ponding creates a water source that’s attractive to several types of wildlife:
- Squirrels
- Mice
- Birds
If your shingles are loose, these pests may make their way into your property and create nests. Additionally, high moisture levels are extremely attractive to termites, which can cause massive damage to your home or business.
Finally, overflowing gutters can create the perfect environment for plants to grow. This greenery can disrupt your shingles and draw even more pests that like to feed on them.
Moisture Leads to Mold
Ponding water creates the perfect environment for several unsavory things to grow:
- Mold
- Mildew
- Algae
Mold is especially hazardous, as it can affect residents’ health if it gets inside the walls. It’s also difficult to remove and may require cutting into the drywall. As you may have guessed, mold remediation is expensive and inconvenient.
What Other Areas in your House Can You Clean with Pressure Washing?
Pressure washing is a great way to maintain gutters, but it has many other uses. While it can’t be used on every surface due to its intensity, there are plenty of areas around your home or business that can benefit from a good spritz.
Home or Shop Exterior
Over time, dirt accumulates on exterior walls and can be especially noticeable on textured surfaces. These areas are too large to clean by hand, but a power wash can clear away grime without a hitch. Pressure washing is safe on most exteriors, as they’re built to withstand the elements. Once the process is done, your property will look like a fresh coat of paint.
Concrete Sidewalks and Driveways
Concrete is an excellent candidate for power washing, as it can withstand higher psi. The tremendous power of a pressure washer can blast away all kinds of stains, including oil and other leaking automotive fluids. Other stain-removing techniques use mild acids, which can weaken concrete, but this water-only method leaves your walk- and driveways as strong as ever.
Brick Sidewalks and Driveways
Brick is another material that’s durable enough to withstand high-pressure washing. Additionally, brick facades often have tiny cracks and crevices that catch dirt and are difficult to clean by hand. Power washing easily blasts this dust away for a spotless walkway.
Windows
Washing second-story windows by hand requires getting on the roof, which can be dangerous and inconvenient. Power washing allows technicians to clean from ground level. Since water is doing the heavy lifting, there’s no soap scum or streaks left.
Patio Furniture
When was the last time you cleaned your patio furniture? Although these items are designed to withstand the elements reasonably well, they still get dirty over time. Fortunately, most patio furniture is durable enough for power washing. In no time, your chairs and table can look like new.
Decks
Finally, power washing is an excellent option for decks and patios. These areas are exposed to the elements and therefore accumulate dirt, but they may also have stains:
- Grease from cooking
- Soot from grills
- Rubber skid marks
- Paint
- Blood
- Wine
Pressure washing can remove these stains from your house without damaging the underlying wood. It’s also great for clearing out the space between planks, which are notorious for housing dirt and grime.
Why Hire Pressure Washing Professionals to Maintain Your House?
While you can certainly clean your gutters by hand or even rent a pressure washing machine, you’re better off hiring a power washing company. Professionals cost more than manual cleaning, but they’re well worth the investment.
Professional Pressure Washers are Faster
Professional pressure washers know the best tricks to speed up a job without compromising quality. Additionally, they have industrial-grade equipment, which means it’s more powerful, precise, and designed for quick, thorough results.
They’re more Efficient at Cleaning
Pressure washing crews know the best way to use the least time and resources. This efficiency means maximum convenience for you and brilliant results.
They Make It Convenient for the Homeowner
Perhaps the best thing about hiring a professional power washing company is that you get to sit back and relax. You don’t have to worry about handling rotting leaves or carting them away. Additionally, you get to schedule cleaning on your timetable.
They’re Experienced at Cleaning Gutters
Professional pressure washers have seen it all. That means they know how to deal with even the strangest and most stubborn stains and gutters.
Are you looking for a company that specializes in pressure washing for your house in Austin? Then you should contact Geek Window Cleaning. We’re proud to deliver top-notch results and the highest quality customer service. To learn more or request an estimate, call us at (713) 581-4963 or visit us online. You can also checkout our blog to learn more about pressure washing.
How Pressure Washing Can Help Property Owners in Austin Maintain Gutters | Geek Window Cleaning
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