As your eyes wander upward on your daily walk around the neighborhood, you notice a good number of overhead wires that string between two poles, and one of those wires seems to jet off the main wires to your home. While not all of those wires are electrical wires, the service wire that attaches to your home sure is.
That leaves homeowners worried and concerned about performing their home maintenance and their semi-annual gutter cleaning – safely.
With up to 240 volts traveling from the transformer to your meter box, there is a greater potential for danger when your body is in close proximity to electrical wires. Consider a few tips before you get started cleaning out your home’s gutter system for the season.
Perform a Visual Inspection
Inspect your electric service line before climbing any ladders to assume your gutter cleaning duties. Be sure to keep your distance and look for any bare spots that may have been worn from years of storms, or that may have been in direct contact with fallen trees, branches, or area foliage. If you spot any ragged wires, it’s best to avoid cleaning your gutters near the service lines. l
Beware of Stray Voltage
Certified electricians who perform maintenance on your electrical system ensure that a ground rod is placed near your meter box that ensures any stray voltage does not harm homeowners, pets, or wildlife but if you’re not sure if you have one, this type of voltage can be an issue.
Stray voltage is typically under 10 volts but if a faulty wire exists, it has the potential to be higher. Climbing a metal ladder to access your gutter system could put you in possible danger.
Cleaning Your Gutters
When cleaning your gutter systems near or around power lines, seek out tools that minimize your risk. Wet/dry vacuum companies have invented attachments to make your home maintenance task easier. These curved attachments intend to blow debris up and out of your gutter system but use caution and wear safety gear to protect your eyes and face. This gutter cleaning technique requires immense flowerbed and lawn clean-up afterward and is almost impossible to use with second-floor gutter systems.
Some retailers who specialize in pressure washers also offer attachments that encourage homeowners to flush debris out of their gutters and downspouts with high-pressure water streams but again, it leaves a bit of a mess. It also poses increased levels of danger with lengthy hoses becoming entangled around the ladder and your body. Anytime you mix electrical current with water, the danger is exponentially increased.
Call in a Pro
Many homeowners in places like Columbia, MD who aren’t comfortable tackling the risks of gutter cleaning in close proximity to power lines choose to hire a professional gutter cleaning company that is well versed and highly trained.
Not only will an experienced gutter cleaning company take care of the area near the service wire, but they can also safely clean second-floor gutters and inspect them for any damage preventing water from being channeled away from your home that is not visible from the ground floor. Some companies may also provide a gutter repair, replacement, and new gutter installation service.
Be sure to contact a gutter cleaning company that is fully insured to protect your home and the company employees.
Conclusion
While there are many risks in the art of gutter cleaning – slips, falls, equipment malfunction, bees, and bugs, homeowners must add one of the most dangerous to the list: power lines.
Some homeowners are very knowledgeable about how to keep you, your family, and your home safe (especially when cleaning with water) but for the majority, it might be time to research gutter cleaning companies that provide quality service, is skilled, trained, and well-insured to perform the most dangerous of home maintenance tasks – cleaning your gutter system around the power lines.
