5 Tips On How To Clean Aluminum Patio Cover Gutters

How To Clean Aluminum Patio Cover Gutters

Most gutters are installed directly on the roof of a home, but patio cover gutters are a smart way to move water away from your home.

First-time homeowners may think nothing of a little water pooling near their home, but over time it can eat away at the foundations of your house.

To avoid this, create channels that move water from downspouts away from your home and put gutters on your patio covers. I’ll show you how to clean them, so you don’t end up with overflowing gutters on your patio cover.

How To Clean Aluminum Patio Cover Gutters

Clean aluminum patio cover gutters by removing all the debris from the inside. Then treat any oxidation and reseal the metal to prevent further damage and save you from having to replace entire sections of the gutter. Finally, ensure that you are cleaning your gutters at least twice a year, or more often if you have overhanging trees and other sources of debris.

When your gutters get dirty, they begin to back up, and backed-up gutters overflow. Whether it’s the patio cover gutters or the ones along the roofline, overflow means bad news for your home and patio foundations.

Water caused the ground in the area to soften, and that means cracks.

What seems at first like an inconvenient puddle by the side of your house can end up being thousands of dollars in foundational repairs.

No one likes cleaning their gutters but putting it off is a dangerous game. Skip out on the costly mistakes and

5 Tips On How To Clean Aluminum Patio Cover Gutters

Spending a weekend afternoon cleaning aluminum patio cover gutters is no one’s idea of a good time. However, for homeowners or renters who do their own outdoor maintenance, it is a necessity.

Clean gutters will flow freely and move water off your patio cover, preventing damage to your home, patio cover, and patio.

Ensure that you provide the water somewhere to go once it passes through the gutter system. If the gutter dumps water at the base of your home, it won’t help at all.

Keeping those channels clean will also help you avoid costly backups.

Instead of getting frustrated and wasting extra time and energy, I will help you get it done the smarter way.

If you follow the five simple tips below, your gutters will run, and you won’t need to worry about damage like oxidation.

With a few simple-to-use tools, you can cut down your time cleaning and prevent future damage.

1. Use a Pressure Washer

Cleaning aluminum patio cover gutters by hand is tedious. Plus, it feels disgusting. Algae growth and partially decomposed leaves are slimy and not in a fun-kids-toy way.

Rather than putting up with the yuck, get a pressure washer. Not only will this hasten the process, but it does a spectacular job.

Using a stream of high-powered water is excellent for getting into corners and crevices. I recommend the Sun Joe SPX3000 corded electric pressure washer from Amazon. The excellent 14.5-Amp 1800-watt motor generates up to 2030 PSI to quickly disburse any blockage and power through stuck-on grunge. Plus, the TSS or Total Stop System automatically shuts off the flow when the trigger isn’t depressed to help prevent accidents.

Sun Joe SPX3000 - BLK 2030 Max Psi 1.76 Gpm 14.5-Amp Electric Pressure Washer
  • [POWERFUL]: 14.5-Amp/1800-watt motor generates
  • [VERSATILE]: Tackle a variety of cleaning tasks: homes, buildings, RV’s, cars, trucks, boats, decks, driveways, patios, lawn equipment, and more. With two 0.9 L onboard detergent tanks, removable tanks carry and store different types of detergent to simultaneously tackle different cleaning projects.
  • [TSS (Total Stop System)]: Automatically shuts off pump when trigger is not engaged to save energy and prolong pump life.
  • [NOTE]: To ensure a fully functioning washer, please make sure all hoses and cleaner connections are properly and securely fastened.

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Get The Right Extension

Using a pressure washer to clean aluminum patio cover gutters can be awkward. It’s not safe to climb a ladder while hauling a washer full of liquid. Precarious balance and high-pressure water do not mix.

Get an extension for your gutter cleaning so you can work from the ground instead. You can grab a Sun Joe SPX-ESW4 5.5-Foot Aluminum Extension Spray Wand from Amazon to easily get the reach you need.

Sun Joe SPX-ESW4 5.5-Foot Aluminum Extension Spray Wand for SPX Series Pressure Washers
  • [LIGHTWEIGHT]: Aluminum pole extends to 5.5 feet providing up to 9 feet of reach
  • [COMFORT]: Simple assembly plus non-slip foam grip for comfort + control
  • [EASY TO USE]: Quickly connects to your favorite Sun Joe SPX Series Pressure Washer
  • [SAFETY]: No need for a ladder: extend your reach up to 9 feet to get to those out-of-reach areas such as gutters, siding, shutters, windows - and more
  • [WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!]: Your new pressure washer attachment is backed by the Snow Joe + Sun Joe Customer Promise. We will warrant new products for two years from the date of purchase. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Contact Snow Joe + Sun Joe customer support at 1-866-766-9563 for further assistance.

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Clean Off Oxidation

Aluminum is incredibly durable and mostly rust-resistant. However, you may occasionally notice a bit of rust stain dripping down from your gutters. It’s best to address this right away. The longer a rust spot sits, the larger it will get.

You can scrub off surface rust with an aluminum cleaning product like AL-NEW Aluminum Restoration Cleaning Solution, and a firm bristled cleaning brush.

Sand any rough, damaged metal with some fine-grained sandpaper to remove the oxidized surface material and prep it for the next step.

AL-NEW Aluminum Restoration Cleaning Solution - Clean & Restore Patio Furniture, Stainless Steel, and Other Household Metal Surfaces (32 oz.)
  • CLEAN, RESTORE, & SHINE: AL-NEW Aluminum Restoration Solution removes the chalky oxidation on painted and anodized aluminum, as well as fiberglass surfaces impacted by heat and UV exposure
  • MULTIPURPOSE: AL-NEW Aluminum Restoration Solution cleans aluminum and other painted metals; It is designed to be used on metal surfaces around the house outdoors, such as patio furniture, garage doors, light fixtures, and more
  • EASY TO USE: Just wipe AL-NEW Aluminum Restoration Solution on the surface with a microfiber cloth; Once dried, AL-NEW leaves a coat of corrosion protection; With just a single wipe, you can achieve astounding results by instantly restoring color, shine, and luster to your faded aluminum and metal surfaces
  • DEEP CLEANING: Aluminum Restoration Solution cleans and removes chalky oxidation from aluminum and other painted metals in a single pass; Once dried, the product leaves a coating of corrosion protection for the treated surface; Astounding results are achieved in just a single wipe, instantly restoring color, shine, and luster to previously faded surfaces

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. Reseal Exposed Metal

Once your rusting or damaged aluminum is clean and prepared, you can easily prevent future issues. Some people prefer outdoor caulk around edges and screws.

Other options include a rubber paint like Flex-Seal or other outdoor rubberized sealants.

Whichever sealant you choose, make sure you dry your aluminum completely and cover all the exposed aluminum, including spots that haven’t rusted yet.

It helps to do this on a dry, sunny day so that rain and high humidity don’t wreck your seal. Plus, leaving any moisture trapped below this layer will cause damage to the aluminum over time.

5. Don’t Put It Off Until Later

Arguably the most important tip for gutter cleaning is to do it right away. Set a schedule and keep it. Mark your calendar, so you don’t miss this vital maintenance task.

Check your gutters every month or two to ensure you don’t need an extra scrub. Any time you see water overflowing the gutter, check for a blockage.

Taking simple, timely action can prevent serious damage, or at the very least, save you time on your next regular cleaning.

Helpful Tips To Know About Cleaning Aluminum Patio Cover Gutters

Cleaning your gutters isn’t all about oxidation damage and pressure washers. However, you clean your gutters, it’s important to be safe and smart.

Here are some additional tips about cleaning aluminum patio cover gutters to help you make the most out of your biannual cleanings.

  • When you’re putting in new aluminum gutters, take the time to make sure they are completely sealed. Although aluminum is generally rust-resistant it can oxidize over time. Areas like screw holes and anywhere the gutter gets scratched are the most vulnerable. Use a good sealant around these.
  • You can opt for an Aluminum Gutter Guard to help keep the larger debris out of your gutters, but you’ll still need to clean and maintain them twice a year. Remove any leaves or buildup off the surface of the guard regularly to keep water flowing.
A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard 5 inch (100 Feet, Mill Finish)
  • ✅ The Difference is In the Design. Heavy (Industrial) Gauge .018 100% Aluminum will not rust - Lifetime warranty by A-M Gutter Guard covers no rust, rot or product self deterioration
  • ✅ Designed specifically for hidden hangars but works with all hangars including K-style hangars - Will not void roof warranties including Fortified Roofs!
  • ✅ Designed to handle downpours with 380 - 1/8" diameter holes per linear foot - Virtually invisible from the ground
  • ✅ This product measures 47" in length and 5" wide. Installs at 46.5" with overlap tab - the 100 feet box comes with 26 pieces
  • ✅ Easy to install with tabs for seamless joints. Requires 1/2" #8 Zip Screws - not included, Made in the USA!!!

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

  • A gutter downspout needs somewhere to go. Runoff channels are one option, but you can also use rain barrels. Connecting your aluminum patio cover gutters to a rainwater collection system can save you money on watering your garden or even provide water to your home.
  • If you opt to clean a gutter manually, wear protective gloves. Sharp twigs and other debris can damage unwary hands. Plus, it’s difficult to see everything that collects inside the narrow gutter.
  • Don’t forget the downspouts when you’re cleaning. It’s important to clear these out when your gutters have become clogged. Most of the time the water exit will run freely if debris is small, but a backed-up downspout will fill up causing spillage and increasing the chance of oxidation.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your aluminum patio cover gutters is a crucial chore for the integrity of your home. When you use gutters to redirect water runoff it helps to prevent foundation issues that can end up costing you a fortune.

Instead of skipping those gutters, get them cleared out and repaired if necessary. Timely gutter cleaning can save you a lot of headaches and trouble down the road.

Drew Thomas

My name is Drew Thomas and I’m the creator of Fun In the Yard, your one stop site for all your outdoor games, sports, party activities, outdoor gear, and lawn & gardening tips.

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