Six DIY steps in cleaning your driveway gutter

One of the most important upgrades for your driveway is a gutter. Traditional gutters along your home’s roof direct water away from the roof and keep it from falling around the foundation. Similarly, a driveway gutter is comprised of a hollowed area that helps capture water and direct it away from your garage, home, and driveway. Similar to traditional gutters, driveway gutters must be cleaned, but the process is much easier and safer and only requires a few basic tools.

1. Prepare your washer

The best way to clean your driveway gutter is by using a pressure washer to deliver a pressurized stream of water capable of breaking apart clogs and clumps of dirt. Many pressure washers have a soap basin, allowing you to add liquid soap. This soap can help break up grease deposits and help the water disperse easier. If you do not have a pressure washer, you can use a water hose equipped with a multi-power nozzle.

2. Clean beneath the grate

A driveway gutter will have a metal grate that allows water to run into the gutter where the tubing will direct the water to a nearby drain. This grate can become clogged, so it is necessary to lift it out and clean inside the gutter.

3. Bag the larger debris

To clean the gutter, you should first bag any large clumps of debris. If you simply spray these clumps, they can move into the drain. If they collect in the drain, they can eventually create a blockage.

Additionally, if you simply spray the gutter, the larger debris will cascade in every direction. Although this is not a dangerous situation, it will cause you to spend a lot of time brushing, spraying, or cleaning up the debris. However, spraying large debris might cause minor hazards. For instance, small rocks can be catapulted into a garage window, resulting in a crack.

4. Set spray setting to high power

With the larger debris bagged, you can now spray the gutter with the pressure set to high. This will clean out the gutter and channel all the smaller debris and water down into the main drain that runs away from your driveway.

When spraying the gutter, you should ensure to only spray the gutter’s main channel. By doing so, you will ensure the high-pressure stream does not chip any parts of the driveway.

If you do not have a pressure washer, you should set the nozzle for your water hose to a single stream capable of breaking up the debris. Because debris can promote mildew, it is important to hold the stream of water in place for a few seconds as it cleans the gutter. While cleaning, ease the stream back and forth as necessary to get rid of mildew or lichen.

5. Set spray setting to low power

Once the main gutter is clean, you should set the sprayer to low power. Again, if you do not have a pressure washer, you can set the nozzle to a setting that fans the water out slightly.

Once the pressure is set, you can spray the asphalt of your driveway. The low-pressure setting will ensure you do not chip any asphalt. Chipped asphalt can lead to divots in your driveway that will gradually collect water or debris. If this happens, you can end up with part of your driveway eroded around the gutter.

6. Inspection

Once the driveway gutter is clean, you should inspect the area around the gutter for any chipped asphalt. You should also ensure the gutter grates are free of debris. If your driveway has any cracks, you might have to pick weeds out of the driveway around the gutter. This is important because plants can develop a root system that can grow up and around the gutter.

Another reason a close inspection is important is that if you find cracks or if the gutter, itself, is loose, it might be time to call a professional cleaning service. Professional cleaners, such as Bam Window Cleaning, can confirm the integrity of your gutter. Additionally, professional cleaners can also schedule annual cleanings to ensure the gutter remains clean even if your schedule becomes hectic. Keeping your gutter clean on a timely basis is important because water that overflows due to debris can erode the ground around your driveway.

Autobiography

Jim Pulman has extensive knowledge and experience in Home Building, Construction, and Design. He writes articles in his free time and partners with content creators to share his expertise with the online community.