Gutter Cleaner using Blower
 

I no longer get on a 12 foot or higher ladder and have a gutter on the back of the house on the 2d floor & the downspout always fills with debris in the fall. Additionally there is a gutter on the garage side of the house that I can get to with a step ladder.

Anyways, I'm tired of spending $85 to have someone schedule & come out to clean out the 2d floor gutter & elbow. Thought there has to be a something that I can make that would do the job well without a lot of jerry rigging.

So, I came up with this.

Used 4 pieces, 5 foot in length of 1.5 inch ABS DWV pipe which is lightweight & coupled 2 sections with ABS cement; making one 10 foot section (couldn't find longer 10 foot sections of ABS DWV pipe). Did the same with the remaining two 5 foot sections.

Added a flange to the end of one pipe which would be the used to connect to the shop vac hose & other end to the Stihl blower. To secure the hose at both ends I used duct tape. The 2d pipe would have a 45 degree elbow and a couple 22.5 degree elbows on one end that would be pointed down into the gutter -- blow the leaves out, etc.

Pictures shows the apparatus used to tackle the garage side gutter which is up about 10-12 feet & second shows tackling the 2d floor gutter.

Another picture shows the two 10 foot sections connected and reaching the 2d level. I used one inch white PVC (measure 1.25 inches wide) which I slid into the 1.5 inch ABS DWV and secured with four 2 inch screws (2 into one section & 2 into the other -- approx. 3 feet of white PVC is used). The use of the white PVC inside stabilizes & sturdies the temporary coupling of the two 10 foot ABS DWV sections, to reach the 2d level. To store in garage, remove the 4 screws/bolts connecting the two 10 foot sections together & slide the white PVC out of the ABS DWV pipe.

Cost: approx. $60

Bob

Ingenious!

Thanks Randy.

Bob

Hard-hat and safety glasses? :D

Was catching up with a neighbor and his plans for the summer, etc., and somehow the conversation shifted to the heavy rains we had last week & subsequently his 2d floor gutters were giving him some grief as they were clogged with leaves and pine needles, especially where two roof valleys fed to the gutter. Well, needless to say, he was speaking my language and mentioned I had a possible immediate solution & headed to the house/garage to fetch my contraption.

Picked up the Stihl blower, the shop VAC hose, duct tape, wrench, and the two ABS DWV pipe sections. In his backyard, assembled the two pipe sections, securing the two together with the 2 inch screws/nuts.

Slid the 20 foot long 1/2 inch pipe up & along the corner of the house, using the downspout as a 'brace' and hung it off the 2d floor gutter. Attached the VAC hose to the pipe using duct tape & the other end to the Stihl blower, securing a tight fit of the blower nozzle also with duct tape.

Fired up the Stihl blower, locking it on high. Maneuvered the pipe along the gutter and leaves were blowing out of the gutter and trickling to the ground (forgot to bring my eye protection). Walked the pipe nozzle left and right of the gutter -- leaves being disturbed & cleared from the gutter.

Located the valley area where you could see pine needles clogging the gutter and moved the pipe left & right -- but nothing happening. No debris flying like with the leaves. After awhile we realized the pine needles, which have been there for sometime, are caked into the valley & gutter. The blower doesn't have the velocity to break it up; so, the old fashioned ladder & gloved hand method is required. Which we'll tacked Wednesday when I have access to a 32 foot ladder.

Again though, the contraption worked great on leaves and clearing out all the other areas. I'll still give it 5 of these :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Bob

Bob.......You neighbor is fortunate that you are ingenious and willing to offer your time and equipment to help him with his chore.

Most of the leaves have fallen & that time of year again with no need to schedule a service crew to clean my 1st and 2d floor gutters --- and pay a service visit & subsequent labor fees.

Just cleaned all gutters in about 45 minutes -- clean as a whistle as they say.:yes:

Maybe one more thorough cleaning in a week -10 days and in the meantime visit MD/AS or ED for some music instead.:thumbsup:

Just a bump for those who do their own yardwork/maintenance & with leaf/gutter issues.

Best Sirs,

Bob

Bob, as I have no pine needles to contend with, only oak and hickory leaves, my solution may not be helpful for you. But, I had a forgotten brand of gutter screen installed on all gutters and what used to be a chore similar to yours is no longer required. I paid less than $500.

This was the first season they were in place, man was it satisfying! I literally did nothing but blow/rake/vacuum them on the ground. But I like your contraption, nicely done!