At United Rotary Brush, we believe street cleanliness starts at the edge. That’s where gutter brooms do their job. For anyone new to the world of street sweeping, these side brooms might look like small accessories. But they play a significant role in the sweeping process.
They reach what main brooms can’t. They handle the curbs, the edges, and the hard-to-reach corners. Without them, you’d leave behind a trail of debris. And that’s not something a city or contractor can afford to overlook.
What Are Gutter Brooms?
Gutter brooms are circular side brooms mounted on the outside of a street sweeper. They spin fast. They flick debris out of the curb and into the path of the main brooms. From there, the main brooms carry debris onto a conveyor or into a hopper.
These brooms handle the edge work. They dig through dirt, gravel, leaves, and trash. They clean up where tires can’t go.
Gutter brooms are critical in both wet and dry conditions. Rain doesn’t stop them from doing their job. When snow melts and grime builds up near storm drains, they help clear it out.
Why Gutter Brooms Matter
Keeping streets clean isn’t just about appearances. Debris in gutters leads to blocked storm drains. That causes flooding and standing water. Over time, it weakens pavement and creates hazards.
Gutter brooms prevent that. They sweep out debris before it becomes a bigger problem. They help cities avoid costly maintenance. They keep roads safe and prevent pollution from running into water systems.
That’s why municipalities, private contractors, and DOTs rely on durable gutter brooms for everyday cleaning.
The Wear and Tear of Daily Use
Because these brooms do tough edge work, they wear down fast. They often face rough pavement, sharp curbs, and heavy grit. Daily use leads to visible wear on the bristles.
That’s when gutter broom replacement becomes essential. Waiting too long causes poor performance. A worn broom won’t sweep the curb effectively. It may even scratch surfaces or miss entire sections of debris.
That’s why routine inspection is key. We always recommend replacing gutter brooms when bristles become short or uneven. Keeping them fresh keeps your sweeper productive.
Choosing the Right Replacement
As a trusted gutter broom manufacturer, we know what makes a good replacement. It’s not just about fitting the machine. It’s about getting the right bristle material, mounting setup, and sweep pattern.
Some brooms need aggressive steel bristles for compacted dirt. Others need poly or mixed bristle types for lighter street debris. Using the right broom increases your machine’s efficiency and extends the life of your main sweeping components.
Proper gutter broom replacement ensures your sweeper maintains consistent performance. It also reduces stress on the equipment and keeps fuel usage in check.
Gutter Brooms vs. Main Brooms
People new to sweeping often confuse gutter brooms with main brooms. But they serve very different functions.
Main brooms do the heavy lifting. They span the width of the sweeper and pull debris into the conveyor system. These brooms are bigger and operate under the machine body.
Gutter brooms are the sidekicks. They loosen and push debris into the path of the main broom. One supports the other. Without gutter brooms, the main broom would miss all the curbside material.
Like gutter brooms, main broom replacement is critical for long-term performance. Both broom types wear out with use. And both need attention to keep your sweeping routes clean.
We manufacture both. As a seasoned main broom manufacturer, we understand how the two systems work together. It’s a complete approach to cleaning—start at the curb, finish at the center.
Understanding the Full Street Sweeping System
A good sweeper isn’t just one component. It’s a system of parts working in sync. From gutter brooms to vacuum heads to conveyors and main brooms, each piece matters.
Gutter brooms are your first point of contact. They make sure the hard-to-reach areas aren’t forgotten. They boost the performance of the rest of the system. When properly maintained, they reduce the time and passes needed to clean a full stretch of roadway.
That’s why it’s worth investing in high-quality brooms from a trusted supplier. It saves time. It protects your machine. And it helps ensure the job gets done right the first time.
Conclusion
Every new street sweeper operator should understand one thing—gutter brooms matter. They’re not an add-on. They’re essential.
When used with a reliable main broom system, they create an efficient, complete cleaning solution. They help cities look better and perform better.
Contact United Rotary Brush today for high-quality street sweeping and runway sweeping solutions! Our team is here to help you stay ahead of winter with the best in brooms, brushes, and spreader chains.
United Rotary Brush Corporation has been the nation’s most reliable source for supplying clients with important items, such as airport brooms, street sweeper brooms, snow plow edges, bucket blades, spreader chains, and more. Our mission is to help our clients keep their environment clean and clear of trash, debris, ice, snow, and any other objects that might get in the way.
For more information about our expansive inventory of gutter brooms, tube brooms, main brooms, strip brooms, wafer brooms, runway cassettes, plow blades, and more – contact us today at (800) 851-5108. You can also go online to see our full assortment of products for highly acclaimed brands like Global, Elgin, Schwarze, XBroom, SB Manufacturing, TYMCO, Bucher/Johnston, Virnig, Laymor, Paladin, and many others.
With more than 80 years of manufacturing experience in the rotary broom business, our team at United Rotary Brush has clearly established ourselves as a reputable source for all your brush and broom needs. Our full line of rotary broom products will be sure to include what you need.
We look forward to assisting you!
