Gutter Cleaning 101

Not only is cleaning your gutters important, it’s also a pain in the you know what. After a long day of work the last thing anybody wants to do is climb up a ladder and dig out the gunk that builds up in a gutter. However, routine gutter cleaning is truly one of the most important parts of being a homeowner. Failure to complete necessary and routine maintenance of you home will result in the need for expensive repairs, I promise. 

Gutter cleaning is a commonly overlooked part of cleaning a home. However, a clogged gutter can result in damage to the foundation, siding, exterior and even the interior of your home. Failing to properly disperse rainwater will cause serious damage. This article will cover why you should clean your gutters and how often you should clean your gutters. I will try my hardest but it is not easy to make cleaning your gutters sound fun, but it will sound worth it. 

Let’s start by learning more about the purpose of gutters. Check out this previous article to learn the 6 Benefits of Power Washing. 

What is the Purpose of Gutters?

Gutters are designed to protect your house from excess water. Every homeowner knows how much damage water can cause, especially rainwater. Water can cause serious damage relatively quickly. It will absorb and weaken common materials used on homes like concrete and wood. It will cause cracks in the foundation and promote the growth of mold and mildew within the home. 

That is why gutters are installed on sloping roofs. As the rain falls, it runs down the roof into the gutter. The gutters are installed with a slight pitch to them, which causes the water to run to the downspouts. Gravity continues to work it’s magic as the rainwater reaches the ground and is spread out across the earth, usually a substantial distance away from the home.  

However, gravity also causes some issues with gutters as it often causes leaves, dirt and debris to collect in the gutters. This will cause clogging and the water to overflow, which is not good.

The Importance of Gutter Cleaning

So, we know how our gutters are supposed to work, now let’s talk about what happens when they aren’t working. Naturally every year various things will fall onto your roof, everything from leaves to branches to random debris. These items will unfortunately follow the flow of water and gravity, usually into your gutters and downspouts. This is a serious issue, because when the rain water comes it will have nowhere to go. This will naturally cause the water to collect in the gutter and overflow. 

When water collects in the gutter and overflows, it will often run down the side of the home and gather along the foundation. This can cause water to penetrate behind your siding and into the walls or crack your foundation. Either way, I can guarantee that water will damage your home overtime if your gutters are not properly maintained. Besides water damage, a clogged gutter may cause them to rip from the roof due to excess weight. This can cause damage to your roof, shingles and add another entry point for water to enter your home. The only way to prevent this is to clean your gutters often.

How Often Should I Clean My Gutters?

Ok so now you know the in’s and out’s of gutters. The next question is how do you ensure that they are clean and properly moving water away from your home? The obvious answer would be to climb up a ladder everyday or so and take a look, but that’s not practical. Realistically your gutters will need a cleaning once or twice a year, but that depends on the location of your home and surrounding trees. Usually, the cleanings are recommended once in the spring and once in the fall as this is the time that most leaves and debris are falling. 

So how do you ensure your gutters are working properly? This can be accomplished by climbing a ladder, walking on your roof or using water. However, most commonly this is done during a rainstorm. Put on a coat and walk around your house looking at the gutters. Take a look at the downspouts and if there is any overflow from the gutters. Another technique is using a hose and running water through your gutters to see how it drains through the downspouts.

This is just another task that should be added to your list of homeowner maintenance. Just as you ensure the things inside your home are working properly, you should be doing the same for the exterior. Let’s face it, not everybody is capable of climbing a ladder and checking their gutters for one reason or another. There is nothing wrong with that, give the professionals a call. Here at All Clean Exteriors, we provide scheduled cleanings annual, semi-annual or how every often you would like.

How Much Does a Professional Gutter Cleaning Cost?

If you choose to hire a professional, you will not regret it. Well, depending on who you hire. Take a look at our previous article about hiring a professional power washing (much of the article applies to professional gutter cleaning as well). Our average price for a gutter cleaning is $150, with a single story home costing roughly $125 and a two story home costing anywhere from $175-275. 

These prices are determined by many factors, so your price may be more or less than the average. Such factors consist of the size of the home, the condition of the gutters and potential repairs that might be needed. Like previously mentioned, we provide scheduled cleanings. Signing up for an annual or semi-annual cleaning will also lower these costs. 

Gutter Cleaning in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex County

There you have it, the in’s and out’s of gutter maintenance. Although it is the forgotten task of home ownership, please conduct regular inspections or cleanings of your gutter. Doing so will certainly prevent any serious damage that a clogged gutter could cause. Do you live in Monmouth, Ocean or Middlesex County, New Jersey? Well, All Clean Exteriors has extensive experience cleaning all types of gutters and houses. We provide expert cleaning with certified technicians. We provide a 100% Money-Back Guarantee along with a Referral Rewards Program where you will earn $75 cash for every referral you provide, upon completion of their service. Don’t wait any longer, give us a call today and let us do the hard work for you.