The gutter cleaning service you choose will be working on your most important asset – your home. Therefore, due diligence is important when choosing a gutter cleaning service. Part of this important research is knowing the right questions to ask each candidate. We recommend the following steps to help you find the best gutter cleaning service for the job.
Start with an online search for companies in your area. Visit each candidate’s website and spend time reading the information available on the site. Look for professionalism and qualifications such as the number of years they have been in business. Also read their published reviews.
Once you have narrowed your online search down to two or three gutter cleaning services, we recommend that you call each candidate and spend a few minutes asking questions. The following questions will help guide you toward choosing the right gutter cleaning service.
How does your gutter cleaning process work?
Your gutter cleaning service should be transparent about the materials and tools they use for the job, all safety precautions, and the process they use to clean your gutters. They should also indicate whether they haul away the debris collected in your gutters or leave the debris for you to handle.
A good gutter cleaning service will show work ethic, enthusiasm, and willingness to talk with homeowners about their specific gutter needs.
Do You Inspect Gutters for Damage or Potential Problems?
The gutter cleaning service you hire should check for potential problems in your gutter system. Leaks, wear, rusted or missing hardware, misaligned pipes, and gaps in your gutters are just a few of the many problems that can occur. A good gutter cleaning service will inspect your gutters for issues while cleaning them.
Do You Offer a Service Guarantee?
Check that your candidate has a service guarantee to back up their work. A well-experienced gutter cleaning service will almost never run into a problem but having a guarantee in place brings peace of mind. This ensures the job’s success even if something were to go awry after rendered services.
Are You Insured?
Mistakes are rare when dealing with a good, experienced gutter company, but you should still check that your potential hire is fully insured before you allow work to be done on your property. Your gutter cleaning service should carry liability insurance for customers and workers’ compensation coverage for employees. Knowing your gutter cleaning service is insured will give you peace of mind when they arrive to clean your gutters.
How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?
Find out how many years each gutter cleaning service has been in business, how many gutter cleaning jobs they handle each week, and how many areas they serve. Also ask if the gutter cleaning service handles other types of gutter jobs, such as installations, replacements, and repairs. If all they do is gutter cleaning, they may not be competent enough to properly inspect your gutters.
Also check for service awards, such as Angi, and/or accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. These indicators help to determine if a gutter cleaning service consistently performs well for a large number of customers. Lastly, search for reviews on Google and read them thoroughly.
Feel free to ask additional questions of your candidate. The more thorough your research is, the more comfortable you will feel about the gutter cleaning service you choose.
Your home is your most precious asset. Ensure that any contractors that do work on your property are knowledgeable, well-equipped, and experienced enough to competently handle the task. If you follow the suggestions above, you should be well on your way to working with a good, reputable gutter cleaning service that will ensure your gutters remain working well for years to come.
Sometimes customers have a hard time deciding whether to do gutter cleaning themselves or hire a professional to do it. Below, we answer many commonly asked questions about gutter cleaning to help give customers the information they need to decide whether to clean their gutters professionally or personally.
We hope you find this FAQ on gutter cleaning helpful. If you do not see your question answered in this article, please email us at office@gutters-ct.com, and we will get back to you shortly with an answer.
Why do gutters need to be cleaned?
Over time, wind and rain cause yard debris (sticks, mud, leaves, insects, etc.) to inevitably build up in gutters. That debris can block rainwater drainage and, if left untreated, eventually cause damage to your property. Most property damage due to clogged gutters is preventable by performing gutter cleaning every six months to a year.
What is the most efficient way to clean gutters?
Gutter cleaning is a messy job. It is best to use rubber gloves for the job. DIYers need a tall ladder (one that can reach all the gutters on the home), a scoop to clean out debris, and a bucket or tarp to hold debris.
For the most efficient gutter cleaning, start at one end of the house and work your way to the other end. We recommend a ladder with a stabilizer built in. The ladder should always rest on solid, flat ground on the bottom end and a solid surface on the top end.
Climb up with your scoop and bucket, scoop the debris out of gutters, and add it to the bucket. Re-situate the ladder every few feet as you clean your gutters.
If you are using a tarp for gutter cleaning, scoop out debris and toss it down onto the tarp. (It is best to avoid this method on a windy day.) You will need to move the tarp as you move the ladder. The distance the tarp and ladder will need to move depends on the length of your arm and your reach.
If you are using a bucket, choose one that is not too large or cumbersome to cause an imbalance. You will need to empty your bucket periodically as you move along your gutters and fill it with debris. Once the major debris has been removed, you can insert a garden hose to gently flush out the small remaining debris and check for any possible leaks in your gutters.
What do professionals use to clean gutters?
Gutter cleaning professionals use a variety of professional tools to clean gutters. These can include industrial-quality extension ladders, power washers, industrial-strength vacuums, and a variety of hand tools. Some companies haul away debris and some also offer exterior gutter cleaning.
Does gutter cleaning include downspouts?
The final step for professional gutter cleaning is to flush out both gutters and downspouts to ensure smooth water flow and clear pipes.
Can I lean a ladder on my gutters?
No. It is never safe to lean a ladder directly on gutters. Your ladder should always rest on a strong, hard surface that is sturdy enough to support it.
What is the best way to clean gutters safely?
Ladder work is the most dangerous part of gutter cleaning. Use caution as you move the ladder each time and climb it. Your ladder should rest on a flat surface and never lean directly on gutters (see above). Ensure that your ladder is stabilized before climbing.
Should I pay someone to clean my gutters?
Whether you should hire a professional for gutter cleaning or do it yourself relies on several factors. First, you need to have a level of comfort working on ladders in order to do your own gutter cleaning.
Second, if your rooflines are especially steep, high, or difficult to access, professional cleaning is always recommended.
Lastly, if you are short on time, find it hard to work gutter cleaning into your busy schedule, or keep deferring this important maintenance, it might be time to call in the pros.
Regular gutter cleaning should be a part of every homeowner’s routine maintenance, just like lawn care, mulching, and other jobs around the property. Poorly managed gutter systems cause rainwater runoff that can damage your home’s siding, windows, and foundation.
Some homeowners opt to clean their gutters themselves, but many call a professional service. If you decide to call in the pros, here are some guidelines to get the most out of their services.
Include Inspections with Gutter Cleaning
In addition to cleaning your gutter system, have the professionals evaluate it. Dust and dirt upswept from wind can create a layer on the bottom of gutters, adding weight to the pipes. This can contribute to the number of leaks and cracks in the system. Leaves and branches from nearby trees can land in your gutter, causing obstructions. Seeds land in gutters and begin to grow. Weed build-up is a warning your gutters may be obstructed.
In both winter and spring, watch the temperature to avoid problems. Here in the Northeast, schedule gutter cleaning prior to the first freeze. After that, gutter cleaning scheduling becomes more difficult, relying on temperatures warming up. Likewise in the spring, schedule gutter cleaning after things have begun to thaw.
Clean Your Gutters Twice a Year
This important task should occur in the spring and the fall. Debris should not remain in gutters through the winter. Heavy rain hitting this debris in the spring can create nasty clogs. Those blockages can cause damage to gutters, downspouts, and foundation, when water backs up in the system.
Have Your Gutter Cleaning Service Remove All Debris
Your gutter cleaning service should take out all debris from the gutters (leaves, twigs, weeds, etc.), clear all downspouts, assess water flow, and remove everything from your property.
Gutters and downspouts need to remain clear and free-flowing. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company to evaluate the effectiveness of your gutter system is the best way to ensure its long life.
Gutter cleaning is one of the most dreaded fall maintenance tasks. Although it’s a tedious job, homeowners would be ill-advised to neglect it.
Most people know their gutters should be cleaned and inspected regularly, but many don’t know how often that should be — or how to do it. Here are three ways to keep your gutters in top shape and free from problems.
Inspect Gutters at Least Once a Year
Gutters should be periodically inspected to catch problems early, and thoroughly inspected each time they’re cleaned. Look for cracks, holes, rust, signs of wear, and possible future problems. Gutters should run in straight lines and slope slightly down toward downspouts, which should be clear of debris.
Consider hiring professionals to inspect your gutters. They’ll know what problems to look for in a gutter system—and early detection can make a big difference with repair costs.
Clean Gutters at Least Twice a Year
Home maintenance experts recommend you clean your gutters two or three times per year. If you live in the Northeast, be sure to schedule a gutter cleaning prior to the first freeze. That’s because if accumulated debris is left inside gutters, it can go through freeze and thaw cycles over the winter, resulting in poor drainage or complete blockages.
Use the Right Equipment to Clean Gutters
To do a good job cleaning gutters requires the right tools. You’ll need a ladder that reaches the gutters at every height on the structure. You’ll need a bucket for debris that can hang on the ladder, so you can use both hands for working. You should also wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp branches and gutter edges.
In all kinds of weather, gutters handle the critical job of draining water away from your home, protecting your siding, windows, doors, and foundation. Regular gutter cleaning will ensure years of good services.
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