Gutter Cleaning In The Winter – Yes You Can!

The thermostat read just north above freezing. Setting up to clean a client’s gutters in Colorado Springs, I hoped the temperatures would go higher.

Can you clean gutters in winter? Yes, though there are several important considerations to do so.

I’ll cover those considerations and give some location-specific advice for gutter cleaning in Colorado Springs for the winter. These tips also apply to gutter cleaning in Black Forest.

Nothing Happens Until 40 Degrees

Temperature is our biggest challenge this time of year. It needs to be warm enough for two reasons. First, warm temps will allow for some thawing of any ice or snow around the debris in your gutters. Second, when the weather is warm, you can safely use water to flush your gutters. Pro tip – I look for the temps to be above 40 degrees to allow these things to happen and to be comfortable working outside.

Change How Your Gutters Are Cleaned

Successfully cleaning gutters in the wintertime in Monument, CO or Black Forest Colorado requires you to change tactics that match the season.

Where you clean from will change. You’ll probably need to clean those gutters from the roof line instead of on the roof itself. Often there will be snow or ice still on the shingles and it is very dangerous to walk or stand on the roof in these conditions. Working from a ladder at the roof line is a safer option. Next, you’ll want to some special equipment.

Scraping the gutters is necessary in winter. You can use a paint scraper or even better, The Gutter Tool. Either of these tools will allow you to remove dirt and leaves that get stuck to the bottom of your gutters. Frequently, I find that the top layer of debris is easy to take off. However, anything on the bottom requires scraping.

Third, consider using a leaf blower. While I normally recommend a water flush to fully clean your gutters, in the winter adding additional water to gutters may not make sense. For example, one customer we have turned off the outside spigots in their older Colorado Springs home to keep pipes from freezing. Even if you could still use those spigots, an air flush with a leaf blower avoids the mess that comes from carting hoses around. So use a leaf blower to ensure your gutters are really clean after removing any debris by hand.

Practical Things When Cleaning Your Gutters In Winter

Cleaning your gutters in Black Forest, CO, or elsewhere in the winter requires some additional things to think about.

You’ll want to allow for more time. Because it’s colder outside and the leaves or pine needles are likely to be partially frozen to the gutters, cleaning them takes longer. Also, have the right gloves.

For winter gutter cleaning, I recommend atwo-glove setup. The first layer is a nitrile glove that keeps water out and the second layer can be whatever type of glove you’d like, provided you don’t mind them getting dirty and wet. This layered approach will keep your hands warmer and dry. Gutter cleaning in the winter means you’ll encounter some snow, ice, or a melty mucky mess.

An Unexpected Bonus

Something I’ve learned while cleaning gutters in the winter is that the weather can make this home maintenance task easier. Assume for a minute that you’re going to clean those gutters on a warmer day, but soon after a recent snow or freeze. Because the debris is still a little frozen, you’ll find that the dirt and leaves will lift out in an entire section!

Location Specific Advice

Based on our experience with gutter cleaning near Colorado Springs and Black Forest, CO, here are some specific tips for these areas.

• It can get windy in Colorado Springs, so choose a day when there is less wind to clean your gutters.
• Pine needles will often freeze to the gutters in winter. To clean your Black Forest gutters, choose a warmer day that will allow for some thawing of any debris stuck in the gutters.

You can certainly clean your gutters in winter. If you do, ensure the temps are warm enough (above 40 degrees) and plan to work from the roof line. Also, have tools like a paint scraper or a Gutter Hawg, as some of the debris is scrapped off the gutters. Consider using a double glove setup to keep your hands warmer and use a leaf blower instead of water as a final step to flush the gutters out.

Explore Further

• Knowing when to clean your gutters in Black Forest, CO is important – this article answers that question
• When matters, as does frequency. Know how often to clean your gutters here
• If you’d like to see recent examples of gutter cleaning in Colorado Springs or Monument – visit our service page

COS Exterior Services does gutter cleaning near you!

Whether that it’s in Colorado Springs, Monument, or Black Forest, CO. Contact our office at 719.401.5576.