Don’t pump up the pressure too high when lifting grime off your gutters
When learning how to clean gutters with a pressure washer, you need to use specific techniques to keep your house free from damage and keep everyone nearby safe. Only clean the outside of your gutters with a pressure washer, and leave the inside to a pro to clean. Here’s how to get the cleanest gutters you’ve ever seen by using a pressure washer.
Pressure washing can be dangerous and damage your property if not done correctly. We highly recommend hiring a pro to ensure the job is completed safely and correctly.
Pressure washing is a simple and effective way to spruce up the exterior of your home. You shouldn’t pressure wash inside your gutters, but pressure washing the outside ensures a sparkling clean facade even if the insides of the gutters are still a little dirty from the old leaves.
Once you’ve prepped your gutters and your home for pressure washing and called a gutter repair company to fix some old damage, you can get started.
Unlike durable concrete driveways or vinyl siding, gutters require gentle pressure washing. If you pick a pressure washer with mega blasting ability, it can damage the gutters, compromise connections, or knock tiles off the roof.
Forceful gas-powered machines suitable for various pressure washer uses often offer over 3,000 psi (pound-force per square inch) of water pressure. While this ensures effective heavy-duty cleaning on durable, non-porous surfaces, a pressure between 1,500 and 1,800 psi is best for DIY gutter cleaning.
Some low-pressure electric models only have one nozzle. Other models have multiple pressure washer nozzle types to choose from, and they are color-coded based on a universally accepted system.
Ideally, you want to avoid the red and yellow nozzles. They spray at zero and 15-degree angles for powerful directed sprays that will be too forceful for use on guttering.
Stick with the black 60-degree angle nozzle for soaping up with detergents and the white 40-degree nozzle for general cleaning and rinsing. For targeted cleaning of stubborn, stuck-on grime, use the 25-degree angle green nozzle with care.
Remove as much leaf litter and other debris from your gutters as you can before you clean them with a pressure washer. Skipping this step can cause all your work on the exterior of the gutters to be useless. It only takes a small breeze for the grime in the gutters to fly out and stick to the outside.
Grab a ladder, brush up on your ladder safety tips, and put on some work gloves. Get to scooping.
Every model varies slightly in their setup. Always follow specific manufacturer’s instructions for how to use your pressure washer. For gutter cleaning, it’s worth investing in pressure washer gutter extensions—sometimes called gutter elbows. These allow you to safely reach up high without having to use a ladder or strain awkwardly.
Keep your pressure washer on a flat surface, check that the connections are secure, and keep the nozzle pointing away from you before turning it on.
Avoid spraying directly up inside the soffits on the underside of your roof. This can encourage mold and mildew growth. Carefully target the outside of the gutters themselves. Rinse with water using the 40-degree angled white nozzle—if this is an option—a few feet away from the gutter surface. Let the water sit for a few minutes to help loosen any stuck-on grime before applying detergent.
To leave your gutters sparkly clean, fill up the detergent tank with a solution specifically designed for pressure washers. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for quantities and application. Bleach is a no-no because it can compromise the gutter material. If your pressure washer doesn’t have a detergent tank, mix the solution with water in a bucket to siphon into the machine.
Use the black nozzle to apply the detergent with a wide 60-degree angle spray.
Work methodically so you don’t miss sections. Work from one end of the gutter and slowly move along to the other end. Leave the detergent to work its magic for five to 10 minutes.
Swap to the white nozzle again to rinse away all the soapy suds. Keep going until you see the water running clear off of the gutters.
Use a ladder to check there aren’t any stubborn spots of grime left on your gutters. If the grime isn’t lifting, try swapping to the 25-degree angle nozzle to hit those spots with a more targeted spray of water.
fore stashing your pressure washer away until the next cleaning job, carry out a few steps for safety and to prolong the machine’s life.
Engage the safety lock to avoid any nasty spray surprises.
Don’t disconnect the pressure washer hose until you’ve turned the water off
Release the safety lock and pull the trigger to remove any water remaining in the hose and tank.
Engage the safety lock again, ready to safely start things up the next time you need to use the machine.
Wipe down the machine’s exterior to get rid of any soap scum.
Keep the pressure washer in a dry, indoor space.
Pressure washers are powerful devices. To protect your gutters (and yourself), make sure to follow these safety tips:
Wear appropriate safety gear: To avoid injuries, be sure to wear ear protection, gloves, goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and boots when pressure washing.
Don’t pressure wash from the top of a ladder or the roof: The force of the water can make a pressure washer hard to control. Using one while standing on a ladder or roof can make you less stable and put you at risk of falling. Instead, use an attachment or extension to reach the gutter while you’re on the ground.
Be aware of electrical hazards: If you’re using an electric pressure washer, make sure the power cord stays away from water. Otherwise, you run the risk of electrical shock.
Pressure washing is a common DIY task, and if you already own a machine or rent one, it can mean big savings. However, it isn’t without its risks. Carelessly blasting the spray can result in nasty injuries or damage to your property. Pressure washing elevated gutters is especially tricky to do safely. You might need to invest in pressure washer extension equipment, and it can damage these more delicate home parts if you use too much pressure.
When in doubt, hiring a professional pressure washing service near you saves any worries, especially if you have a multi-story home. The cost to pressure wash a multi-story house ranges from $400 to $1,800. The cost to clean your gutters alone is $170.
It is possible to clean gutters with a pressure washer but work with a maximum psi of 1,800 to minimize the risk of damaging your eavestrough. And, instead of climbing a ladder, it’s safer to use gutter elbow extensions. These avoid the risk of the machine’s pressure causing you to lose stability while up high.
Pressure washing isn’t the only way to clean your gutters. Use a hose and a long-handled brush if you aren’t afraid of a little elbow grease. Alternatively, set up a stable ladder and scrub by hand with a brush. It’s also possible to purchase gutter wand extensions for hoses or a gutter vacuum if you don’t mind the investment. These help clean thoroughly without you having to scale a ladder.
Some materials are too delicate to withstand the force of a pressure washer. This means you shouldn’t pressure wash more fragile parts of your home, including asphalt shingles, windows, air conditioner units, electric meters, wooden patio furniture, and light fixtures. Also, never pressure wash trees, plants, shrubs, and other living things (like people and pets).
When cleaning gutters, your pressure washer shouldn’t exceed a pressure rating range of 1,500 and 1,800 psi. Remember—gutters are designed to withstand the pressure of heavy rain and not much else. While the force of the water in a pressure washer will get rid of the dirt and debris, too much force can damage your gutters and, if you’re not careful, your house. A high PSI will have you prepped to call a professional when your gutter leaks. It could also mess up the gutter joints or even blow the tiles off of your roof.
