Introduction: Rain Gutter Cleaner
Every year I have clogged rain gutter and rain gutter drain pipes. Not wanting to have to go up on a ladder every year to clean them out, I put together a rain gutter cleaner that is to use and costs about $5 to use and allows me to stay on the ground.
All the parts can be found at the local hardware store or if you are like me, at home.
This is what is needed:
1 10' length of 3/4 PVC pipe.
1 3/4" PVC to Garden hose adapter
1 3/4" PVC ball valve
1 3/4" PVC L
1 3/4 to 1/2 L (1/2" side being threaded)
1 6" sprinkler riser, 1/2" in diameter
Can of PVC Glue
Tools:
PVC pipe cutter or hacksaw
All the parts can be found at the local hardware store or if you are like me, at home.
This is what is needed:
1 10' length of 3/4 PVC pipe.
1 3/4" PVC to Garden hose adapter
1 3/4" PVC ball valve
1 3/4" PVC L
1 3/4 to 1/2 L (1/2" side being threaded)
1 6" sprinkler riser, 1/2" in diameter
Can of PVC Glue
Tools:
PVC pipe cutter or hacksaw
Step 1: Cutting Up the PVC Pipe.
Cut the PVC into three pieces. Here are the lengths. The lengths are not precise.
6 inches
24 inches
6 feet.
The 6 foot length is determined by the height of your house. When assembled, you will want to be able to comfortably hold the cleaner on the ground and reach the rain gutter.
6 inches
24 inches
6 feet.
The 6 foot length is determined by the height of your house. When assembled, you will want to be able to comfortably hold the cleaner on the ground and reach the rain gutter.
Step 2: Assembling the Cleaner
Put everything together before you glue to make sure everything is correct.
Connect 6" piece of PVC to the two L connectors. This creates a U shaped hook that will reach into your raingutter
Connect the sprinkler riser to the threaded L connector
Connect the 6' length of PVC to the L connector.
Connect the valve to the 6' length
Connect the 2' length to the other side of the valve
Connect the garden hose adapter to the end.
If your house is a two story house, you can add another piece of PVC pipe where the 6' length is. If you I would put threaded couplers on the long pieces so it can be taken apart and stored and used on lower roofs.
If you have a real high house, you might want to consider using 1" PVC for strength, but that will increase the cost of the cleaner.
Connect 6" piece of PVC to the two L connectors. This creates a U shaped hook that will reach into your raingutter
Connect the sprinkler riser to the threaded L connector
Connect the 6' length of PVC to the L connector.
Connect the valve to the 6' length
Connect the 2' length to the other side of the valve
Connect the garden hose adapter to the end.
If your house is a two story house, you can add another piece of PVC pipe where the 6' length is. If you I would put threaded couplers on the long pieces so it can be taken apart and stored and used on lower roofs.
If you have a real high house, you might want to consider using 1" PVC for strength, but that will increase the cost of the cleaner.
Step 3: Using the Cleaner
To use the cleaner, first change into clothes that can get wet. You will until you figure out how to use it.
Close the valve on the cleaner
Connect your garden hose to the base of the cleaner.
Turn on the water.
Put the hook of the cleaner into the rain gutter.
Turn on the valve.
Go back and forth along the rain getter until the gutter is clean. The rain gutter has clips every couple of feet, you just need to lift up the cleaner to go over them.
If the rain gutter is full of debris, then you will want to start at the end with the drain and flush it out.
If you have a pergola connected to your house, you can turn on and off the water at the valve as you go around the trusses.
If your drain is clogged, this will work great to flush it out alone.
Close the valve on the cleaner
Connect your garden hose to the base of the cleaner.
Turn on the water.
Put the hook of the cleaner into the rain gutter.
Turn on the valve.
Go back and forth along the rain getter until the gutter is clean. The rain gutter has clips every couple of feet, you just need to lift up the cleaner to go over them.
If the rain gutter is full of debris, then you will want to start at the end with the drain and flush it out.
If you have a pergola connected to your house, you can turn on and off the water at the valve as you go around the trusses.
If your drain is clogged, this will work great to flush it out alone.
