Which Blower for Roof and Gutters

HighTide

HighTide

New member
Hey guys. I am interested in taking on something a little different for me...gutter clean out. I have almost always passed on cleaning out gutters but now have a chance (with a willing employee) to bid on a regular scheduled clean out for several condo complexes. This job is to just clear the roof and gutters as the regular weekly yard crew will pick up the debris. Some of the gutters will likely be completely packed while many are on 3 or 4 story buildings. What type (back pack or hand held), brand and model should I look at? Any helpful accessories to make the job easier and safer? Thanks for any advice!
 
I clean gutters. I do them by hand now. When I first started cleaning them, I used a backpack blower. One day stepped on a patch of roof that was green and slick. I went right off. Luckily it was a 1 story and there were bushes below. I did break my ankle though. I will never go on a roof with a backpack blower strapped to my back. It happened so fast I didn't even have a chance to react.
You might consider handhelds so you can easily discard it, if you start going down.

Just a word of caution, blowing debris on and around the roof makes it very hazardous. If you step on wet leaves or a twig the wrong way, you could end up on the ground very fast.
 
3-4 story work should require you and or your guys to be " TIED OFF " with an approved tie off system. I think using a blower to clean out gutters can be very messy and cause more work. I clean em out by hand after finding out what a mess a blower can create.
 
I agree,...People sometimes ask us to clean their gutters,..thinking it will be easy for us since we will be using a pressure washer,....They are always surprised to see us using our fingers,...and just as Rance stated,..it's just simpler and way less messy.

Jeff
 
How can you charge enough to make it worth while? Let's say you complete a $300 house wash in 2 hours and never unloaded a laddder. Now you are about to price another 2 hour job thats much more agggravating and labor intensive. Thats the hard part for me. Espesially on two or three story.
 
David, definitley get hand held, much easier to manage. We also use these gutter grabbers from ladder max. You can screw them onto the end of an extension pole and save yourself several ladder movements. We also use it for busting the occasional out of reach dirt dauber.

http://www.buyladder-max.com/gutter-grabber/
 
HighTide said:
Hey guys. I am interested in taking on something a little different for me...gutter clean out. I have almost always passed on cleaning out gutters but now have a chance (with a willing employee) to bid on a regular scheduled clean out for several condo complexes. This job is to just clear the roof and gutters as the regular weekly yard crew will pick up the debris. Some of the gutters will likely be completely packed while many are on 3 or 4 story buildings. What type (back pack or hand held), brand and model should I look at? Any helpful accessories to make the job easier and safer? Thanks for any advice!
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Backpacks can get you KILLED on a roof, as the others have posted. We use either the Stihl or Husqvarna Blowers, the hand held ones.
 
HighTide said:
Picked up this Husqvarna today for primarily blowing off roofs. It's light and has really good air flow and should blow out gutters with ease as well. The reviews on several sites were overwhelmingly positive which is why I picked it.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_269584-86886-125B_0__?productId=3029455&Ntt=gas+blowers&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dgas%2Bblowers&facetInfo=
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I have that exact blower. I bought it to blow off roofs and it has worked great. Also good for a quick, clearing off of large driveways with a lot of debris before I clean them. This blower has made me a fan of Husqvarna.
 
Nick L said:
I have that exact blower. I bought it to blow off roofs and it has worked great. Also good for a quick, clearing off of large driveways with a lot of debris before I clean them. This blower has made me a fan of Husqvarna.
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LOL, well ...... welcome to the "Husky Club" !
We love our trusty Husky's, here at Apple Roof Cleaning!
They are much less "cold natured" then the STIHL'S, and we find they start better too.
I too was skeptical, but one day our STIHL refused to start, and we had a job to do.
My Men were close to a LOWE'S, so I sent then there to buy the Husqvarna (I read good reviews on it, from the lawn guys)
We have been buying them, ever since.
 
I've posted this before, but a few months back I bought an Echo and quickly found out you can't adjust the high speed/low speed needles on the carb. I had to take it to the dealer's shop and was told it's a federal EPA reg. Takes a special tool and he's not allowed to sell it.

Ron and Doug (if you're watching), after a blower is worn out and no longer works, and because it was used for roof cleaning and/or prepping for power washing (BMPs), does it get listed and classified as Class II Hazardous Waste? Also, do you guys know if used pizza boxes are on the list? Bahahaha
 
Rapid HotClean said:
I've posted this before, but a few months back I bought an Echo and quickly found out you can't adjust the high speed/low speed needles on the carb. I had to take it to the dealer's shop and was told it's a federal EPA reg. Takes a special tool and he's not allowed to sell it.

Ron and Doug (if you're watching), after a blower is worn out and no longer works, and because it was used for roof cleaning and/or prepping for power washing (BMPs), does it get listed and classified as Class II Hazardous Waste? Also, do you guys know if used pizza boxes are on the list? Bahahaha
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Only if it wears out in a garage in California and no one was there to hear it....I would show you the link that supports this BUT, well you understand.
 
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