Cleaning gutters with vac.

[jnoden]

This will be my first full season of cleaning out gutters. I think I might purchase an 18 gal 6.5 hp shop vac and about 30 ft or so of 2.5 inch hose. Has anyone else tried a set up similar to this to clean out gutters? I understand I will still need to remove sticks by hand but this might be an easier and safer way to remove other debris.

[JeffW]

Everyone has their own way of doing things, but in my opinion while you're up there picking out the sticks you may as well just finish by hand.I've found that cleaning gutters by hand is the cleanest and most controlled way of doing this job.

[Mike]

I think that with a 2.5 inch hose you would be up there twice as long as you would if you just scooped it out. I clean them by hand and then flush them with a water hose.

One thing that helps me speed up the process of cleaning gutters is putting a scooper on an extension pole and using that when possible, it limits my ladder movements. Just becareful when using long poles around power lines going to the house.

[Henry B.]

When the gutters are dry, the fastest way to go is a blower. Been using them for 15 years and I haven't found anything that does a better, faster job.

[Cat Powerwashing Inc.]

I second that! I scoop everything out by hand into a 5 gallon bucket and blow out the rest. if leaders are clogged, you will have to take them apart.