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Why should I have my gutters cleaned?

The gutters on your rental property collect rainwater from the roof. They carry it away from the foundation of the property through downspouts.

Over time, gutters can become clogged with leaves, insects, nests, sticks and other obstructions – particularly over the winter months when storms can affect nearby trees.

Regular maintenance and gutter clearing are essential for a couple of reasons. When debris builds up, it stops your gutters from functioning the way they should.

If you haven’t given much thought to your gutters, don’t worry. You’re not alone! Gutter cleaning is pretty easy to put off. It’s not an easy chore to do, let alone an enjoyable one – but it is important.

When should I have my gutters cleaned?

It’s relatively easy to know when your gutters need a clean. A well-built gutter will be able to handle most normal periods of rainfall. If you notice that your gutters are beginning to drip or overflow, it’s a sign that they need a clean (or a professional inspection).

You may also notice that birds will hang around your roof if they spot pooling water that’s caused by blocked guttering.

As a general rule, it’s worth having your gutters cleaned once a year. The best time to look at them is in autumn or winter, once the trees surrounding your home have shed their leaves.

However, you may need to clean your gutters more than once a year. Do you have pine or eucalyptus trees near your property? These trees shed throughout the year, and often during the hot summer months. If leaves start blocking your gutters during summer, you could have a fire risk. Clearing debris is essential if you live in a bushfire-prone area.

Property owners: DIY safety tips for gutter cleaning

Gutter cleaning and maintenance can keep your investment property safe from potential storm damage. Regular cleaning will help to extend the life of your gutters and prevent further damage to the building structure.

Safety first: Accessing your gutters can be dangerous. Ensure you use proper safety equipment to avoid the risk of falling and sustaining an injury. If you use a ladder to access your gutter, ensure it’s stable. Consider having someone assist you with cleaning and maintaining the gutters. Having someone stand below to help secure the ladder can be a big help.

Use the right tools: Your local hardware store should have plenty of options to help you clean your gutters. Invest in a good pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands while you clean. Think about grabbing items like a cylindrical brush to scrub the gutters, or a gutter scoop to remove debris.

Assess the condition of your gutters: There are a few red flags to look for once you’ve cleared the debris from your gutters. Can you see any holes, cracks or broken brackets? If so, consider arranging for a roof repair specialist to inspect and repair your roof. Unchecked issues can potentially damage other parts of your home.

Source: https://www.rent.com.au/blog/responsible-gutter-cleaning

National Water Week is popping up again in the third week of October. The theme for 2018 is ‘Water for me, Water for all’, and is aimed at encouraging young people and the wider community to think about how we use water on a day-to-day basis and how we can protect it so we have it in the future.

Water usage is a particularly topical conversation in Australia, and more specifically, in Queensland at the moment, where drought is plaguing our shires. Currently 58.1% of the state is a drought-declared shire. Additionally, with a drier-than-average spring approaching, it is become more and more vital that we save water in all ways that we can.

We have compiled some tips from the Queensland Government Water Initiative to help you save water in your own home…

Bathroom

Up to 16 per cent of household water is flushed down the toilet. The following tips can reduce the amount of water used and in turn help reduce your water bills.

Don’t flush needlessly. Use the half-flush option on dual flush systems and never flush items other than toilet paper down the toilet.
Replace your older-style toilet suite with a 4-star WELS Scheme dual-flush system. This can save up to 8 litres of water with every flush.
Use tank water to flush. Talk to your plumber about having your rainwater tank internally plumbed to your toilet.

A standard shower can use 20 litres of water per minute, and accounts for up to 24 per cent of household water use.

Install a water-efficient shower head. A WELS Scheme 3-star rated shower head will use no more than 9 litres of water per minute.
Take a shorter shower. Shorter showers not only save water but help reduce the amount of energy associated with heating the water.
Insulate your hot water pipes. This means you won’t need to wait as long for the hot water to flow through—saving you both water and energy.
Make sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high.
Use a bucket to catch water while the shower warms up. You can then reuse this water on your garden.

Laundry

Selecting the right washing machine is the best way to save water and energy. Choose a washing machine with a 4-star WELS Scheme rating or better; you could use up to 50 per cent less water.

There are a number of other ways you can save water in the laundry.
Try not to use your washing machine every day. Instead, sort clothes and wash bigger loads less frequently.
Pre-treat stains to limit the need to rewash.
When adjusting warm water tap flow, always turn the hot water down rather than the cold water up.
Use small amounts of water if washing clothes by hand and reuse this water in your garden.
Make sure that everyone picks up and sorts the clothes they wear each day so clean clothes don’t get washed by mistake.
Divert grey water from your washing machine for immediate use on your garden (except vegetables).

Kitchen

Water use in the kitchen contributes up to 13 per cent of total household consumption. There are many ways to save water in the kitchen.

Use the dishwasher with a full load. Running a full load in a water-efficient dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand.
A 5-star WELS Scheme rated water efficient dishwasher uses as little as 7 litres of water.
Scrape your dishes and soak your pots and pans to remove food rather than rinsing them under running water.
If you have two sinks, half-fill the second sink with rinsing water. If you only have one sink, rinse the washed dishes in a pan of water.
Rinse vegetables in a bowl and then use the water on your garden.
Don’t use running water to defrost food. Place your frozen food in the fridge to thaw overnight.
Store drinking-water in the fridge—running the tap until it’s cool wastes up to 15 litres a minute.
Encourage children to empty water bottles onto the garden or pot plants instead of down the sink.

Pool

As pool and spa owners, you can reduce water consumption in several ways.

Use a pool cover. A properly fitted pool cover can stop up to 97 per cent of evaporation and reduce the amount of chemicals required to treat the water.
Check your pool for leaks. A tiny leak could result in a large amount of water loss.
Build your pool in an area that is shaded during the hottest parts of the day. This will reduce evaporation and help avoid the sun’s harsh rays while you swim.
Maintain the correct chemical balance in your pool and clean it regularly. Top up your pool with rainwater runoff.

For more great tips visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/water/use/home.

Gutter cleaning: Who is responsible, landlords or tenants?