Bushfire recovery and cleaning out your gutters are integral tasks to undertake in order to prepare homes for bushfire season. While gutters may seem harmless enough, they often contain debris which could spark an ember attack, thus potentially endangering lives and property. To prevent such problems in the future, read on to learn more.
Preventing Bushfire Disaster With Gutter Cleaning
Preparing for bushfires requires several key actions that can protect both you and your family. These may include creating a home fire-prep plan, keeping emergency supplies handy, cutting back overhanging branches and shrubs and getting your gutters professionally cleaned by professionals – these all serve to lessen the chance of your house being lost in a bushfire.
At the core of every bushfire is an ember attack – airborne particles which ignite anything they come into contact with, including leaves, grass and twigs found nestled within roof gutters. A professional gutter cleaner can assist in protecting homes against these attacks by clearing away kindling from roof gutters as well as installing guards that comply with AS3959-2009 standard.
Ember guards are metal mesh covers designed to stop burning embers entering your house and complying with Australian standards; you can find them at most hardware stores. A high quality ember guard will not catch fire and should have appropriate whole sizes according to its intended use in your area.
Regular gutter cleaning can also prove useful during a bushfire, particularly if conditions are hot and dry. Debris and leaves that accumulate in gutters may become a fire risk when struck by sparks from nearby bushfires – these fire hazards could spread rapidly through your property, including onto roofs of houses or buildings on your property.
Clean and clear gutters can also make it easier to defend your property during a bushfire, using water to help stop the embers from entering your home and prevent them from getting inside with water cannons but for optimal safety it’s best to remain on the ground using a garden hose as opposed to standing on roof or climbing ladder; statistically speaking those who fall off ladders or roofs are more likely to die than those burned by flames themselves.
Before bushfire season arrives, it’s also important that water tanks be cleaned out thoroughly so as to eliminate ash, soot or fire retardant from leaching into them and potentially polluting your freshwater supply.
Keeping Gutters Clean
Keeping your gutters clear is one of the biggest ways you can protect your home. They must remain unobstructed with leaves and other combustible debris that is highly flammable – particularly important if you live in an area prone to bushfires – otherwise, failure could result in catastrophic bushfire damage to your property.
Professional gutter cleaning services offer the best defense against this happening to your property by thoroughly clearing away all potential kindling that could ignite a bushfire on your land. In addition, they can assist in creating a buffer zone between your homes and surrounding bush land by trimming trees, mowing grass, or removing dead branches – creating an effective barrier between yourself and bushfires in the surrounding areas.
An annual gutter cleaning should be scheduled twice annually – once in spring and once again when trees begin shedding leaves. After bushfires have occurred it can also be beneficial to have them professionally cleaned; as water and embers from these fires can flush away debris that has built up over time in your gutters.
Gutter cleaning can be an arduous and tiresome task. To protect yourself from injury when cleaning gutters with ladder safety tips in mind, such as wearing thick gloves and safety goggles; ladder horns (standoff stabilizers) may help ensure stability for work at hand; using power tools may allow access to hard-to-reach areas by hand alone.
If you want an easier and safer way to clean your gutters, metal gutter guards (which I touched on, earlier) may be the solution. They prevent leaves and debris from accumulating in your gutters while also stopping hot embers from reaching the roof of your house. Installing them easily saves time from climbing ladders to clear your gutters regularly.
Preparing for bushfires requires several measures that will safeguard your property and facilitate its recovery as quickly as possible. One important step is clearing away flammable materials from both your home and yard – such as dead leaves, twigs, branches or rubbish that could ignite during an outbreak – from the roof and gutters as soon as possible. Also important if your property is located in rural areas.
However, gutter cleaning can be a complex task for homeowners to undertake on their own. In addition to needing ladders and protective clothing for themselves, professional gutter cleaners have experience handling this task in an effective manner and without exposure to harmful particles like smoke. They know exactly how best to go about this process safely and efficiently.
Gutter cleaners should be licensed and insured professionals with regular safety training as well as the appropriate equipment for working at height. With years of experience tackling large amounts of debris and rubbish removal, gutter cleaners will also have the knowledge needed to identify potential issues before they become severe problems for you.
Hiring a professional gutter cleaning service can save both time and money, but also do the job totally right. A service will quickly and efficiently clean your gutters, with perfect results every time (which you can click here to inquire about). In addition to that, they may be able to assist with other home maintenance tasks like trimming trees or clearing away debris in your yard.
Also, gutters that are clogged with debris attract pests and rodents that could infest your property, which pests will build nests causing even further damage to it. This debris could block downspouts and soffits which in turn cause leakage as well as roof and shingle damage if left clogging them for too long. If left clogging your downspouts can also clog them, leading to water leakage causing leakage through to roof or shingle damage.
Hiring a professional gutter cleaner is an investment that will help prepare you for bushfire season, no matter what. Simply enter your zip code online, compare quotes, and find one best suited to your needs. These professionals have been extensively trained and will take all precautions necessary to perform their duties safely without risk to either themselves or your property.
