Gutter Cleaning Tools to Fit on Leaf Blowers

Benefits

• Gutter cleaning usually requires you to climb on your roof or on a ladder and manually remove debris. The risk of falling and injuring yourself is high, especially with steeply sloped roofs or gutters on a second or third floor. A leaf blower attachment kit allows you to stay on the ground and keeps your hands clean and dry. The jet of air pressure also makes quick work of the debris, making the chore take far less time.

Problems

• Most of the problems with using a leaf blower attachment kit to clean your gutters come from the leaf blower itself. Leaf blowers, like all power equipment with a gas powered engine, produce noise in excess of 70 decibels even when idling, says the Planet Professional Landcare Network. This can cause hearing damage. Improperly made attachments also leak air out before it can get to the gutters, lowering the pressure until it is insufficient to clear out leaves and other debris.

Create Your Own

• If your home has an unusual total height or your gutters are oddly shaped, making your own leaf blower attachment may work better than buying one. Fine Homebuilding says that a section of plastic hose that is usually used for central vacuum systems works best for the main length of the attachment, and can be cut to any size. A few PVC couplings allow you to make the curved end that directs the air down into the gutter and attaches the plastic tubing to the leaf blower nozzle.

Alternatives

• If you don't own a leaf blower, try one of the many other tools designed to help you clean gutters from the ground. Gutter vacuums come in hand-operated models that work like a reverse leaf blower or in automated robotic cleaning devices. Long poles with retractable claws are also marketed for cleaning gutters, but they can be hard to control until you have some practice.