A roof gutter is one of the important parts of a house’s exterior, and it requires maintenance by regularly either cleaning it yourself or hiring a gutter cleaner. However, you must wonder how much does a gutter cleaning cost? Well, we will find out.

Gutters protect your home by preventing rainwater from seeping into your house’s foundation or destroying your house’s yard. 

Moreover, cleaning your gutters may help prevent them from getting damaged from clogging due to the accumulation of debris for a long time. Let’s find out how much it costs for gutter cleaning.

Let’s get started!

Factors That Affect the Gutter Cleaning Cost

Gutter cleaning might seem simple, but it is a risky task, especially if you are doing it yourself. However, most homeowners prefer cleaning their roof gutter because it’s less costly than hiring a gutter cleaner.

If you are considering hiring a gutter cleaning company like HomeCraft Gutter Protection, the cost you will be charged depends on certain factors.

These factors include; 

• Length of your gutters
• The slope of your roof
• The condition of your gutter
• The Height of your home
• The type of your gutter
• Hiring a professional gutter cleaner or DIY
• The season when cleaning the gutter
• Location of your house
• The accessibility of your gutters

HomeCraft Gutter Protection can clean your gutters and leave them in good condition. Besides, they also install a gutter guard in your home at an affordable cost, protecting your home from water-related damages. Contact HomeCraft Gutter Protection for a free estimate today

The Length of Your Gutters

The length of your roof gutters determines the overall gutter cleaning cost. Most gutter cleaning companies determine the price by measuring your house’s square foot.

So the longer the length of your roof gutters, the more money you will pay for the gutter cleaning.

The Slope of Your Roof

If your house is built on a steep slope, it will be difficult for the gutter cleaner to reach the gutters. The gutter cleaner may find it riskier and require more time to complete the cleaning; hence the cost may be a bit high and vice versa.

 The Condition of Your Gutter

The condition of your gutter will also affect the cost of cleaning. For instance, if you have never cleaned your gutters, a lot of debris will accumulate in them, and the cleaner will need a lot of time to clean them.

The poor condition of your gutters will require more cleaning time, so the cost will be high compared to less dirty gutters, which require less time to clean.

The Height of Your Home

Cleaning gutters in tall houses can be risky for the gutter cleaners and requires specific equipment to reach the gutters. The cleaner may not have the right equipment to reach the gutters, so they may be required to purchase them, which will increase the cost of cleaning.

Cleaning may take more time to complete, so the cleaner will increase the cost to cover the risk and time.

The Type of Your Gutter

The type of gutter also determines if you will pay more or less for the gutter cleaning. For instance, if you have copper gutters, they will take a long time to clean and will also require special cleaning; thus, it will be costly.

But the same does not apply to cleaning seamless gutters, which fortunately require less time to wash, and the cost of cleaning will be less.

Hiring A Professional Gutter Cleaner or DIY

Another factor determining the gutter cleaning cost is hiring a professional gutter cleaner or DIY. As a homeowner, you can decide to hire a gutter cleaner to do the cleaning for you. 

However, gutter cleaners are the best option because they have the right equipment for the job and are well experienced. Although hiring a cleaner is costly, you are guaranteed that the work will be quick.

Some homeowners would like to save the gutter cleaning cost by doing it yourself. However, this can be risky because you would not maintain safety precautions, and you can also end up with the extra cost of hiring the equipment needed for cleaning.

 

The Season

During the summer, there is a high demand for gutter cleaning because more debris falls off the gutters, and when the demand is high, the gutter cleaning cost will be increased.

Location of Your House

The location of your home will also determine the gutter cleaning cost. If your house is further away from the company’s location doing the gutter cleaning, the cost of cleaning will be high. 

However, some gutter cleaners charge the fare fee, which would be an additional cost to the cleaning cost.

The Accessibility of Your Gutters

The gutter cleaning cost will be high if the gutter cleaner cannot access your gutters easily may be due to the presence of a building or long trees that may be blocking the cleaners. 

The cleaners may charge high because they may need more time for cleaning or may need extra equipment. 

Signs That Show It Is Time to Have Your Gutters Cleaned

As a homeowner, you must know that your roof gutters require regular cleaning at least twice a year. Sometimes it’s not easy for you to always remember that your gutters require maintenance.

However, there are visible signs that indicate your gutters need some cleaning. Such signs include the following;

• Bird nests inside your gutters
• Your gutters are Sagging 
• Rust stains on gutters
• Water Leaks on the roof
• Plant growth on the gutters
• Excess debris
• Scrawling animals
• Water overflow on the roof sides

Bird Nests Inside Your Gutters

A clogged gutter full of debris can attract birds that make their home there because it’s a perfect spot to stay.

If you notice such a scenario of a bird’s nest in your roof gutters, then you must know that your gutters need serious cleaning.

Your Gutters Are Sagging

Another sign that shows your gutters need cleaning is sagging gutters. Gutters may sag because of excess debris, indicating that they need cleaning.

Rust Stains On Gutters

Rust stains on the lower side of your gutters indicate excess debris on your gutters that cause water to spill on the gutters. Besides, rust causes cracks on gutters.

Water Leaks On the Roof 

Water leaks on the roof occur due to clogged gutters that block rainwater from flowing through the gutters and instead flow at the edge of the gutters to the roof.

Growth of Plants On The Gutters

Roof gutters that have not been cleaned for a long time may start growing plants since they are exposed to light, dirt, and water. Over time, the roots of those plants may damage the gutters by causing cracks in them.

Excess Debris

Another sign that your gutters need cleaning is an excess amount of debris and tree leaves. If the leaves build up in the gutters for a long time, they may cause clogs or even cracks in the gutters.

Scrawling Animals

Clogged debris in your gutters makes a comfortable environment that attracts crawling animals like lizards, rats, frogs, and squirrels. This clearly shows that your gutters are clogged and need a thorough cleaning.

Water Overflow On the Roof Side

When gutters are clogged by debris and other materials, rainwater may start to spill on the sides, and that may cause damage to your lawn or the foundation of your house.

Benefits of Cleaning Your Gutters Regularly

Gutters are vital in protecting your house from getting damaged by rainwater, so you should clean your gutters regularly.

To work properly and protect your house from rainwater damage, your gutters should always be clean from debris.

Below are the benefits that come with regular cleaning of your gutters.

Protects the Landscape Around Your House

The landscape around your house contributes to the overall look of your home. If your roof gutters start overflowing, the downpour may destroy the landscape around your house by sweeping away the soil and plants.

Prevents Your Foundation from Cracking

Clogged gutters cause water overflow that finds its way into the foundation of your house, which in turn causes the foundation to crack.

However, if you regularly clean your gutters, they will not get clogged and channel the rainwater to the drainage system away from your foundation.

Prevents Growth of Plants in the Gutters

If you don’t clean your gutters, the debris accumulating there may start to decompose, forming an organic matter ideal for plants to grow in. Also, the root plants may cause cracks in the cracks, thus giving your house an unappealing exterior look.

 Prevents Infestation of Pests

Gutters are clogged with debris and form good spots for pests to breed and multiply. Pests like mosquitoes and rats love to stay in inaccessible places where they nest and breed without disturbance.

Extends the Lifespan of Your Gutters

When roof gutters are regularly maintained, they can last for a long time. But if debris is left to accumulate in the gutters for a long time, it starts to decay, forming organic matter that causes your gutters to rust.

Prevents Fascia Board Damage

When the debris heavily clogs gutters, they cause water to overflow and spill on the fascia boards causing them to get damaged; however, this can be prevented by regularly cleaning your gutters.

Prevents Ice Dams from Forming in the Gutters

If roof gutters are regularly cleaned, they will not encourage the formation of ice dams. Ice dams are formed when the water in the clogged gutters freezes during the cold season. The ice dams damage the shingles and may cause the gutters to fall off.

Provides Clean Rainwater 

Clean gutters contain clean water that channels into the rain tank. However, if your gutters are full of debris, the gutter water may contain organic matter and other small organisms making the water unsafe for drinking.

Prevents Roof Leakages

House roofs are very important because they protect your house from rains and wind; however, clean gutters prevent water spills into the roof that may cause leaks.

If your gutters are entirely clogged, water may not flow well into the drainage; hence it will find a way into the roof, causing it to leak.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do Clogged Gutters Damage the House Foundation?

Clogged gutters damage the house foundation by causing cracks or weakening the foundation. A clogged gutter causes water overflow that starts to spill on the walls of your house, pouring down to the foundation. 

The water causes flooding around the foundation within 24 hours after the water spill, and later it forms cracks. 

Is Cleaning Downspouts Part of Gutter Maintenance?

Yes, cleaning the downspouts is also part of gutter maintenance. If your downspouts are clogged, it may cause water to overflow that will start to spill on the roof.

When cleaning your gutters, it’s also good to clean the downspouts to avoid damages that may arise later.

How Often Should a Gutter Be Cleaned?

Some gutter protection companies suggest that homeowners clean their gutters at least twice a year.

However, some factors determine how frequently one should clean their gutters. These factors include if your gutters are in areas where they can get a large amount of debris or your area’s climate.

How Does Season Affect the Gutter cleaning cost?

The gutter cleaning cost is always high during the fall and spring springs because there is a high demand for gutter cleaning services. Most homeowners clean their gutters this season because of a lot of debris, and most gutter cleaning services are fully occupied.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your gutters on time before they accumulate a lot of debris and get clogged can prevent them from getting damaged, saving you money.

The above article highlights some of the warning signs to look for to know that your gutters need cleaning services.

In addition, you can also weigh the factors that affect the gutter cleaning cost to determine if you will hire a gutter cleaner or DIY.