Get your gutters ready for bushfire season

Bushfire season usually approaches without warning, so it’s vital that you take the time to get your gutters ready and prepared to prevent your home from falling victim to fire. Many don’t realise that clogged gutters can be a potential fire risk. Here’s how to get them ready for the bushfire season.

Why are clogged gutters dangerous in bushfire season?

Most homes don’t perish directly from flames engulfing them in their path, it’s from the embers that fly through the sky from the bushfire and land on dry debris that’s often found in clogged gutters. All it takes is one small ember to land in the dry leaf litter that’s in your gutters for it to go up in flames. If an ember lands in your gutters and there is nothing in there, it will likely fizzle out. Embers can travel even after a fire has been extinguished and they can travel up to 40km. The bushfire seasons are long here in Australia, so it’s important not to get complacent.

Have your gutters professionally cleaned

The thing about gutters is they are up high, and cleaning them out properly can be a challenging task. It involves working at a height, and this can be dangerous if you don’t have the right equipment or if you don’t know what you are doing. At Global Vac Gutter Cleaning, we utilise the very latest vacuum technology to effectively clean out gutters in a fraction of the time. The best part is they leave behind zero mess, and it saves you the hassle of having to manually clean them out. This can be very messy and time-consuming.

How often should you get your gutters cleaned out to prevent them from being a potential bushfire risk?

Several factors can influence how often you should have your gutters cleaned out. If you live in an area that has a lot of trees nearby or overhanging, or you reside in a bushfire-prone area, you will likely need to clean them out more often than if you don’t. At the minimum, we suggest having your gutters cleaned every 6 months and more often if any of the above apply to you.

It’s smart to take the necessary precautions to prevent your home from bushfire damage. Ways you can do this is by removing old tree branches, twigs, leaves or anything else that is in close proximity to your home that could easily catch alight. Mowing your lawns regularly and removing weeds is also advisable.

Invest in gutter plugs

Along with keeping your gutters clean with regular professional gutter vacuum cleaning services, you can protect your gutters further by investing in some gutter plugs. These are used to block up your gutters and downpipes, which you then fill with water if a bushfire is near. These add another layer of protection, and if smaller embers fall into the guttering the water will put them out. This works best when the gutters are clear of debris before filling them with water. Fill the gutters from the ground rather than getting up on a ladder. If you fall and a bushfire is close by, this can become an even more serious situation.

Prevention is key

Prevention is key to protecting your home and decreasing the likelihood of it getting significantly damaged during a bushfire. Hiring our team to come out and look after your gutters means there’s one less thing you need to worry about when bushfire season starts. Contact your friendly Local Gold Coast Gutter Cleaning team to book your vacuum gutter clean today.