Cleaning Gutters With Pressure Washer – How To Do It Easily

The pressure washers have become very popular in cleaning gutters. The power of the pressure washers is so high that you will be able to clean the gutters with less time and effort. The pressure washers are also eco-friendly which is a great advantage when cleaning gutters at home.

Cleaning gutters with a pressure washer is easy, fun and the best way to clean them. If you are tired of getting wet cleaning your gutters with a ladder and bucket, a pressure washer is the best way to do it. The high pressure will loosen all of the dirt, debris and whatever else is stuck in your gutters.

Using a pressure washer with a gutter wand to blast away all the accumulated debris in your gutters is safer and easier than climbing on a ladder. A gutter wand attaches to any pressure washer and hooks over the edge of your gutter, making it easy for you to spray the inside of your gutters from the ground.

Here are the accessories you need to power wash your soffits and gutters and the tips you need for safe pressure washing.

Cleaning Gutters With Pressure Washer – Step By Step Guide

Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes beautiful colors and falling leaves. But one thing you won’t enjoy about fall, are the falling leaves that get stuck in your gutters. Luckily there’s a solution! Power washers blast away all that dirt and leave your gutters clean as a whistle. This short guide will show you how easy it is to clean out those gutters with a power washer.

Step 1: Clean the Surroundings

Pressure washing your gutters is easy, but you’ll want to do a few things first. Make sure you clear all outdoor items — chairs, tables and anything else people may be sitting or standing near during the wash — away from your home. You don’t want water careening onto them or worse, hitting them and breaking them.

Next, make sure you move any potted plants around as well. You also don’t want water flooding these and drowning them. Also, cover your plants or move them away from the area being pressure washed.

As you clean your gutters, take a moment to see just how much space you have to get around. You want to make sure that you can move freely — and yet still have room to keep your balance. Pay attention to anything beneath you — bushes, flower beds, window sills — that might leave you hobbled or cause you a fall if you aren’t careful.

Create a pathway that you can follow so you have clear sightlines and don’t trip over any kids’ toys or other clutter.

When pressure washing your gutters, debris will fall to the ground. This can damage your home or other property, like a parked car. To prevent this, make sure to address the surrounding areas while you are pressure washing. If you clean up the debris that falls from the gutters after the job is done, you can reduce the chances of damaging any property.

Step 2: Safety First

It’s imperative to wear the appropriate safety gear while operating a pressure washer, so make sure that you put on safety goggles or glasses. If water builds up in the wand, it may shoot out unexpectedly when you release the trigger, just like a gun. It may also irritate your hands or skin if it touches any part of your body.

Put on a few layers of clothing . It’ll be colder than you expect out there, and if you’re working at night, it will be darker as well.

Please practice safety precautions. When pressure washing, be sure to wear safety goggles and other protective gear. Debris may fall from the roof, and water may spray from above and get into your eyes.

Step 3: Use A Telescoping Wand

When the gutters need to be cleaned at your home, rather than climbing the ladder, consider attaching an extension or telescoping wand to your pressure washer hose. With this tool, you can reach up high and clean out your gutters without having to worry about a slipping ladder or falling off the roof.

It’s not a great idea to use a pressure washer while on a ladder. The force from the pressure generated from the pressure washer can send you off balance and make you fall off the ladder. This is especially true if you are on an extension ladder, which can be more wobbly than an upright one.

A telescoping wand for a pressure washer hose is an essential tool that can make all the difference between a good job and a great job. By adjusting the length of the wand, you can extend it to the height you need to reach branches or other high areas around your home.

Step 4: Use A Gutter Cleaning Wand Attachment

For this first step, you will need to put the telescopic gutter cleaning wand attachment on the end of your telescopic wand. You can use a U-shaped or V-shaped attachment for this, which is like a hook for reaching the inside of your gutter. The bent end of the attachment allows you to clear out leaves, twigs, and other debris that can build up inside your gutters.

In addition to the main nozzle, there are also washing attachments with two horizontal nozzles which allow for water to be sprayed in all directions. These attachments are more efficient at cleaning gutters and other surfaces as they clean both gutter sides at the same time. The main nozzle is a great tool to have if you have straight gutters as it can reach further than the attachments and clean all the way down.

Step 5: Rinse With Water

If you want your gutters to stay in top shape, you’ll want to clean them regularly. But before you start washing the mess away, make sure you pour some fresh water down them first. This will prevent any clogging or damage and get everything ready for the cleaning solution.

You can use a pressure washer to clean your gutters. While you are cleaning, start with the downspouts since they are the most important part of your gutter system because they channel water away from your home. The force from a pressure washer will be able to release any clogs or debris stuck in the downspout so that it doesn’t enter into your home.

Don’t use a high-pressure spray for your initial soffit cleaning. That can damage the roof, and it can send debris into the wall or window frames — a real hazard for any glass-enclosed structure. Instead, use a low-pressure nozzle to rinse off the soffit without harmfully impacting the shingles or gutters themselves.

What kind of pressure washer do I need? The choice of pressure washers is really not as important as the choice of tips for this machine. It is incredibly versatile and can be used with just about any kind of pressure washer (gas or electric) from 1400 PSI up to 3000 PSI. Electric pressure washers are cost effective, but will require more time to clean.

What kind of pressure washer should I use? Electric or gas?

When it comes to pressure washers, it’s all about the PSI, which stands for pounds per square inch. The higher the PSI, the more dirt and grime your pressure washer can blast away. But if you have a large area that needs cleaning or need to tackle heavy dirt and debris, 2,800 or 3,000 PSI is recommended.

Step 6: Apply Detergent

Use a detergent solution to clean your gutters weekly! Make sure you dilute your detergent according to the instructions on the box. Fill your detergent tank with a recommended amount of water and a recommended amount of detergent solution, then switch it to “On.” Attach the spray tip, coat the soffits and gutters with diluted detergent solution, and let the machine do the rest for you.

Washing the gutters with detergent is a quick and easy way to remove dirt, dust and other debris. Scrubbing away with a detergent-based soap will help ensure that you are able to easily rinse away any remaining residue in the next step — perfect for easy spring cleaning.

Step 7: Spray Dirt & Detergent Away

You want to use a high-pressure spray pattern to remove your detergent from the machine. Loosen the detergent tank by turning off the water supply and loosening it with a screwdriver. Then, aim the nozzle at a walkway and squeeze the trigger to flush out any remaining detergent. Once you’re finished, tighten your valve and turn the water on.

You’ve already completed your gutter cleaning, so now it’s time for the fine-tuning. Take out your power washer and spray off all of the detergent, grime, and stains that remain. After inspecti ng each section of your gutters, you might notice some stubborn spots. Take a little more time to work those areas until you see a clean result!

Once you’re done, rinse the area with water from a low-pressure nozzle, so you don’t accidentally spray the plants while they’re drying. Attend to them within 4-5 hours of applying fertilizer and water as needed.

Step 8: Clean The Debris

Spray and sweep the debris out of your gutter system.

Use a water broom attachment for your pressure washer to do the job more effectively.

The water broom has three or more nozzles that spread the spray over a wider surface area. It can wash away the grime from your wooden fence, concrete flooring and asphalt drive way while still being gentle on plants and shrubs.

When To Pressure Wash Your Gutters?

Pressure washing is a great task to get done in autumn, when the leaves have started to cover your gutters, preventing water drainage. Clearing out leaves at this time of the year is a great way to prevent flooding in your home during winter. You’ll want to get the washing done before they freeze over, so that they don’t add extra weight and cause heavy damage to your gutters.

Clean your gutters once a year in late autumn, before the cold weather sets in. And clean the leaves out of your gutters before they get frozen.

A few times a year, homeowners check the guttering on their house. Some people choose to clean them every 3 or 4 months, as this really depends on what type of house you live in. If you live in an area with lots of trees and pine needles, it’s important to clean gutters more often to avoid clogs.

Type Of Attachments For Pressure Washing Gutters?

Extension wands for pressure washers are also known as sprayer wands because they help you to completely target the surface or nest of water when cleaning with a pressure washer. This is especially important if you’re trying to wash the side of your home or your car.

There’s a recoil that comes from a pressure washer when it’s turned on, and this can throw off your balance if you’re on a ladder and not careful.

Most pressure washers have an optional extension wand, which allows you to reach up to 2 feet above what you can already clean with your pressure washer. When using a pressure washer, it’s best to stay on two feet on sturdy ground.

A telescoping wand for pressure washers makes it easy to reach a variety of surfaces without moving the actual washer unit. While all pressure washer extensions are adjustable, some are longer than others. The length of the extension is important when using a pressure washer on a second story or other tall location.

Adjustable wands can extend from 12 feet all the way up to 24 feet, which means they can reach pretty much any part of your home. Plus, they’re suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

There are also wand attachments available for pressure washers. There are two types of wand attachments — a gutter wand attachment and a telescoping wand attachment. To attach the gutter wand attachment to your pressure washer, you must attach the connecting hose and then clip the attachment onto your wand. Do this by first removing the cap at the end of your pressure washer’s telescoping wand.

Single-nozzle and double-nozzle attachments are available. Some models feature a single, wide nozzle to spread out the cleaning solution easily. Others use two separate nozzles to target both sides of your gutter at once. The double-nozzle models might help you work more efficiently, especially if you have a large gutter.

If you want to clean your gutter system, you’ll need to consider a pressure washer broom. This device uses pressurized water to blast away heavy debris that fell into the corners of your gutters — whether it’s built-up dirt or leaves. You can also use it to blast away stubborn stains on your cement walkway or patio that covers select areas of the gutters.

How Much PSI Do I Need To Pressure Wash Gutters?

A pressure washer with a PSI of 1500 that’s designed for home use is the best option for most homeowners. It’s suitable for cleaning decks, patios, driveways, and other common surfaces around the home, as well as for DIY projects such as removing paint from walls or remodeling small areas.

Do your gutters really need to be blasted with 3000 PSI?

Anyone who’s ever used a pressure washer can tell you that the lower the PSI setting, the better.  This is because there are less chances of damage happening to your guttering with lower PSI.  With higher pressure it makes the possibility of damaging and warping extremely likely.

Homeowners who depend on pressure washers to clean their houses, driveways, and other surfaces sometimes have a hard time finding pressure washers that are good for delicate surfaces. If you’re worried about damaging your property, pressure washers with adjustable spray speeds can help you deal with different kinds of surfaces.

Fortunately, there are now several pressure washers on the market that are safe for use on almost any surface!

How To Clean Gutters With A Pressure Washer

If your gutters need cleaning, don’t reach for the ladder. Instead, try a pressure washer with a gutter wand that’ll blast away all the accumulated debris in your gutters in no time.

The best way to clean your gutters is with a pressure washer. The process is simple: hook up the hose to the port on your washer, prop open your gutter, and turn on the water.

When you’re ready to start cleaning, set the pressure gauge between 1500 and 2000 psi. Spray in a back-and-forth motion along the length of your gutter to remove old leaves, dirt, and other debris.

Conclusion

Some parts of your home’s exterior, like your gutters, simply don’t allow for a quick rinse with the garden hose. Your best bet is to use a pressure washer to blast away years worth of debris and grime.

Pressure washers are powerful machines and with such power, they can be used to clean a variety of jobs around your home. Although this is not yet a common practice, more homeowners are starting to hire professional pressure washing companies to do their cleaning.

A pressure washer is the absolutely necessary tool that will save you both time and energy when it comes to cleaning your home’s gutters. Cleaning them by hand can take days, even weeks — and is not only inefficient but also dangerous. For example, if you were to try to clean a very large house with a ladder alone, you’d risk falling and injuring yourself.

When it comes to effective gutter cleaning, the best tool is a pressure washer. You can blast away dirt, grime, and buildup with ease when you pair the right pressure washer nozzle with your desired cleaning solution.