Home Habits: Gutter Sense

Locally owned and sourced, family run, here in the USA business, Gutter Sense is the creator of a revolutionary gutter cleaning tool. 

No one loves gutter cleaning, but it’s an essential step in home maintenance. Why? Your gutters enable water to flow down your roof and away from the walls and foundation of your home. If your gutters and downspout are clogged, water spills over your gutters. When it pools near your home, it can cause extensive (and expensive) damage. 

So, gutter cleaning is a must. But it’s messy and unpleasant, and it can be unsafe, too. In fact, nearly half a million people are injured in ladder accidents annually, and 97% of these accidents occur at home. 

Gutter Sense understands the risks and the necessity of gutter cleaning, which is why they've developed a tool to make it safer and easier—and get the job done faster. You won’t find the tool in Home Depot or Lowe’s, but you will here on the website for under $30. 

I had a chance to interview owner Mike Schiestel to learn more.

• Why is gutter cleaning so important? - Your gutters are the main plumbing that move water from your roof, to the downspouts, and then to the designated areas of your yard that keep excess water from your foundation. Like a plumbing pipe, if they get clogged or the water is restricted, the gutter will either overflow (sending water where you may not want it) or will hold standing water making a great spot for mosquitoes to breed in.
  
• Why is it often overlooked or put off? - Because the business end of a gutter faces up, it is easy to ignore what is happening inside of it. As far as putting it off, that is an easy one. Cleaning your gutters typically involves a ladder, and your hands digging into partially or fully decayed organic compounds.  There is certainly a danger as well as an odor.  
  
• How does Gutter Sense differ from other options for gutter maintenance? - Well, as mentioned above, the ladder and the hand full of gook can be skipped when using Gutter Sense. The real beauty of Gutter Sense is that you are able to clean the gutters from the ground and you never have to dig in the gutter with your hands. Because of the strong lightweight design of the tool, you can easily work your way around your home and get the gutter flowing well in no time.