The trees have shed their leaves, rain has fallen, and all debris has now been deposited into rain gutters. It’s time for you to pick up a ladder, put your gloves on, and start unclogging them before the next rainy season strikes. You prepare yourself for the job and pull out the ladder from the basement. But once the day comes and you are outside under the hot sun, you begin to realize how dangerous this task is.

If you are still determined to go through with your rain gutter cleaning by yourself, make sure to take precautions against these four common dangers:

Power lines often run nearby houses. After all, it would help if you had your daily dose of electricity to keep your refrigerator running and your lights on. But a fall or other sudden movement may make you come into contact with a nearby power line. While one touch won’t likely electrocute you, you could cause severe damage to the line and then have to face the cruel consequences.

You can avoid all these dangers with the proper gear and training, but you might still be at risk should an accident occur. Homeowners spend an average of 1% to 4% of their home’s value on home maintenance each year. So when it comes to ensuring your safety, it’s best to trust the work of a professional to clean your gutters.

It is, by far, the most frequent accident that happens when cleaning rain gutters and other activities that involve ladders. In fact, and according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 90,000 people have been critically injured and have required emergency medical care for falling off ladders every year. What makes this number more worrisome is that, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revealed, more than half of these accidents could have been prevented with proper inspection and usage of the equipment.

Ensure that your ladder isn’t showing signs of deterioration or damage before heading outside to clean your rain gutters. Also, take all the necessary precautions when placing the ladder; have someone help you bypass the tools to you, hold your ladder steady at the base, and be sure to have the proper ladder for the height you need to work at.

After confirming your ladder is safe to work with and you have the supplies to clean your gutter, you may look up towards your roof and think that everything will be fine, and then you go up the ladder. However, some people can be acutely affected by heights, and losing balance on a high ladder is hazardous.

Before attempting to clean your rain gutters, first check if you have ever experienced vertigo, dizziness, or other conditions that could affect you while working at high heights—your life could depend on it.

Dark, humid spaces filled with leaves, branches, etc., usually attract animals like rats and birds and foster the growth of mold and other fungi. If your gutters are infested, there are many diseases you could expose yourself to just by picking up debris with your bare hands.

It is why it is crucial never to forget to use gloves while cleaning your gutters—to prevent coming in contact with harmful bacteria, mold, and diseased rodents. We recommend using suede gloves, which are more resistant to sharp objects.

Since cleaning your rain gutter can entail such risks, it is best to be as well equipped as possible to accomplish the task. If you think you may be ill-equipped, consider hiring a professional to avoid the dangers entirely.