How Much Does It Cost to Clean Gutters?

When it rains, snows, or hails, all the water that lands on your house has to go somewhere. If not directed and funneled to an appropriate location, it could seep into your roof or walls, causing structural problems. This is why homeowners choose to install gutters.

Gutters are an important part of keeping your house dry and free from water damage. They channel all the precipitation away from your home and into downspouts, which then funnel the water to the ground.

For gutters to work properly, they should be cleaned at least twice a year, in the fall and spring, to remove all debris. Fallen leaves, twigs, and dirt can quickly dam up a gutter system, causing it to malfunction.

The average cost for gutter cleaning is $150 to $225, with most homeowners paying around $188 for professional cleaning of a single-story 1,500-square-foot home with 150 linear feet of gutters.

Cleaning Gutters Cost

Gutter Cleaning Prices by House Height

Gutter cleaning prices are primarily determined by how many linear feet of gutters your home has, but the house height is also a factor. The base pricing generally assumes a single-story home. Additional charges apply for second and third stories since the extra height requires extension ladders, specialty tools, and a second worker.

Gutter Cleaning Costs Per Foot

The gutter cleaning process is very straightforward. First, the technician leans a ladder against your house and climbs up with the necessary tools, manually removing debris using a gutter scoop or gutter brush. Once any caked-on debris is loosened and removed, a stream of pressurized water flushes out the remaining dirt. The water is directed toward the downspout where it travels to the ground. If the downspout is clogged, the technician uses special tools to free the clog. This service usually incurs an additional charge.

Once the gutters and downspout are clean, the technician sweeps up any debris that landed in your yard. It is also the time for a full inspection, which checks for problem areas that need repairing and confirms that the slope of the gutters is correct.

A professional gutter cleaning company normally charges an average of $1 to $1.50 per linear foot of gutter length for cleaning and inspecting first-story gutters. This price increases to around $1.90 to $2.50 for a two-story home and $3 to $3.17 for three stories.

Cost of Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts

If your downspout is not clogged, the cleaning should be included in the standard flat-rate quote. When shopping around and deciding which company to hire, confirm their per linear foot cleaning rates. Tell them how many linear feet of gutters and downspouts you have. Ask what their prices are for cleaning clogged downspouts because this is usually an additional $50 to $100 charge.

Roof and Gutter Cleaning Cost

Many gutter-cleaning companies also service roofs so that you can combine both cleaning services in a single visit. Roof cleaning removes lichen, moss, stains, and other debris that is lodged on your rooftop.

The average cost for roof cleaning is 15 to 30¢ per square foot, with most homeowners paying around $350 to clean the roof of a 1,500-square-foot home. When getting a quote, ask about a potential discount for scheduling both a gutter and roof cleaning at the same time. Many companies offer reduced rates for bundled services.

How To Measure Gutters

When you get quotes for gutter cleaning services, the first question they will ask is how many linear feet of gutters you need cleaned, followed by how many stories your house is. If you do not know how long your gutters are, you need to measure them.

The easiest way to measure gutters is to use twine or string and have an assistant. Have the other person hold one end of the twine against the gutter edge while you go to the other end of the gutter. Mark the length of the gutter on the twine. Go to the next gutter and repeat the process, starting from where you marked the end of the first gutter. Once all gutters are measured, total the length of the twine. Measure the downspouts as well and have those numbers available when you call to request a quote.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Cleaning Gutters

While gutter cleaning costs are often quoted per linear foot of gutter, multiple factors determine what that quote will be. The cleaning professional will consider the home’s height, gutter location, and the presence of gutter screens or guards when deciding the pricing. Once the cleaning and inspection are underway, additional factors like the gutter condition and clogged downspouts could add to the quoted price.

• Height: Baseline gutter cleaning costs are for a single-story home, so additional floors impact the final number. Expect an additional $135 to $150 for a two-story home and another $100 to $165 to go from a two-story to a three-story home. The higher rates reflect the need for taller ladders and a second cleaning professional, as well as the added risk due to increased height.
• Location: If the ground below your gutters is unstable, steeply sloped, or difficult to maneuver due to shrubs, trees, or other landscaping features, it will take longer to set up and move the ladders. Therefore, expect to pay a higher price for your cleaning.
• Gutter screens or gutter guards: Some homeowners choose to install gutter screens or gutter guards over their gutters. This allows water to flow through the gutters, keeping out most of the debris. These systems are not completely foolproof, so some debris eventually makes its way into the gutters. Removal of the screens or guards at cleaning time may incur an added charge.
• Gutter condition: After cleaning, the technician conducts a gutter inspection. Depending on what they find, you may need to pay for repairs like re-affixing loose gutter hangers to the fascia board or replacing rusted, warped, bent, or broken gutter sections. Budget up to an additional 15% of the cleaning quote to cover minor repairs.
• Clogged downspouts: If your gutter system has a lot of debris, the downspouts may become clogged. The technician will need to take additional time and use special tools to clear the downspout. This comes at an additional charge of approximately $50 to $100.

Clogged Gutter Problems

As the seasons change, leaves and other debris regularly build up in the gutter system. The debris buildup can form a dam in the gutter so that water cannot flow to the downspout and away from your house. The dam causes the water to back up and overflow the gutter’s sides, leading to the following problems:

• Structural damage: A clogged gutter can cause water to overflow, running across the eaves, onto your roof’s edge, and down the sides of your house. This eventually damages the home’s roof and sides.
• Flooding: Water overflowing your clogged gutters may pool on the ground beside your home’s foundation, where it can seep beneath the foundation into the basement or crawlspace. Flooding in these areas poses a significant risk of causing extensive structural damage.
• Cracked foundation: Water settling around a foundation could freeze during the winter months. Frozen water makes the soil expand and heave upwards, which could crack the home’s foundation.
• Slippery surfaces: Pooling water on walkways and driveways also poses a danger to pedestrians who can slip on the wet surfaces.

Benefits of Gutter Cleaning

Biannual gutter cleaning is vital to the health and longevity of your home. Cleaning keeps the gutter system free from accumulated debris so that the water is diverted away from the structure rather than backing up and infiltrating your home, causing mold and rot.

A debris buildup in a gutter is heavy and can cause the gutter to bow, bend, break, or pull away from the home. If the gutter pulls away from the fascia boards, they may suffer damage and also need replacing. This leads to costly repairs or replacements that could have been avoided by following a regular cleaning schedule.

The inspection after the cleaning also provides a time to reassess the gutter’s slope and condition. Minor damage or leaks can be caught early during the inspection so that repair costs are minimal. If standing water lingers in the gutters, that indicates the slope is off. The cleaning professional will adjust the gutter hangers so that the water flows freely toward the downspout.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

The frequency of gutter cleaning depends on how quickly leaves, branches, and other debris get caught in your gutters. The standard recommendation is to clean gutters a minimum of twice a year. Most homeowners choose to schedule these cleanings for the spring and fall.

If you live in an area that gets more frequent wind and rain or your landscaping includes tall trees that deposit leaves and twigs into your gutters regularly, you may need to schedule an additional summer cleaning. An extra cleaning may also be necessary after a particularly large storm.

Consider how much debris your cleaners remove from the gutters each time, as well as any damage they find. If your gutters or downspouts are routinely filled or clogged, it is time to add an additional cleaning to your yearly schedule.

Professional Gutter Cleaning vs DIY

When it is time to clean your gutters, you can do it yourself or hire a professional. Each option has pros and cons.

Cleaning your gutters yourself allows you to do the project whenever you have time, rather than having to call and schedule it. DIY is also less expensive since you are not paying a professional cleaner.

The downside of cleaning your own gutters is that it can be time-consuming. If you have a two or three-story home, you need a tall ladder, which carries an additional risk of injury. To do the job correctly, you need specific tools and know how to use them. Also, you are responsible for the inspection and knowing which signs to look for. If your gutters are damaged, you may still need to call in professionals to do the repair, depending on the damage and your repair skills.

If you hire a professional gutter cleaning service, you have the peace of mind that a professional performs the inspection. Since they are experienced, gutter cleaner technicians do the job quickly and correctly. You do not have to purchase special tools or climb ladders. The downside of hiring a cleaner is that the cost is higher, and you must schedule the cleaning.

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Gutter Maintenance

Gutters require biannual inspections and cleanings, which typically take place in the spring and fall. In some cases, if the gutters have become bent or warped, a gutter professional may need to adjust the slope to keep the water flowing toward the downspouts. The downspouts will also need to be inspected for possible obstructions and ensure that they still adequately expel water away from the structure.

The inspector should also look for spots of rust and peeling or flaking paint. The downspouts and gutters must be snugly affixed to the structure and fascia board. An inspection of the fascia boards for rot or damage is also carried out. If areas of rot or damage are noted, it is suggested that you have the lumber replaced or repaired by treating it with wood preservatives.

While biannual inspections are recommended for all gutters, homeowners who live in an area with frequent storms or have gutters positioned below tree branches should consider more frequent cleanings to prevent the gutters from clogging.

Enhancements and Improvement Costs

Tighten Fasteners, Reseal End Caps, and Repaired Outlets

Professional gutter repair is normally charged by the hour. The cost averages $11 per hour, and the time needed to do the repairs depends on how many fasteners need to be tightened, how many end caps require resealing, and how many outlets need repairs.

Gutter Guard Cost

Gutter guards keep leaves and debris from falling into the gutter trough. The guards, also called gutter covers or gutter screens depending on the style, allow water to flow into the gutters while blocking larger debris. This decreases the chances of the gutters clogging and makes the cleaning process faster. It can also extend the gutter’s lifespan. The cost of installing gutter guards averages $6 to $10 per linear foot.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Before hiring a professional gutter cleaning company, consult with them to ensure that they include removing all debris in their quoted price.
• Discuss with the professional gutter cleaning company any possible price increases that may be involved due to large bushes or trees that may obstruct the gutter technician’s path when cleaning the gutters.
• Clogged downspouts frequently add to the cost of basic gutter cleaning charges by $50-$100.
• If you live in an area with abundant rainfall, consider having your gutter system divert the water into a dry well area.
• Gutters that are located beneath trees often require more frequent cleaning, especially after a storm because of fallen leaves and debris from the tree.
• Water that pools in the gutter system’s troughs can cause rust or rotting wood. This is especially true if the gutter is made out of sheet metal.
• Any roof that is higher than a single story should have a professional gutter cleaning company clean the gutter system because of safety. Taller structures require an extension ladder.
• Gutter guards and leaf catchers prevent debris from building up in a gutter system, but they are not a complete solution. Gutters still require biannual cleanings because small pieces of debris filter past the leaf guard screens. The screens must be removed and cleaned.
• Never work on a roof that is icy or wet because you could slip and fall. Also, avoid working in windy conditions because a sudden burst of wind could knock you off the ladder.
• Always check to make sure your downspouts expel water away from the house because water pooling near the home’s foundation can seep into the crawlspace or basement, causing structural damage. The pooling water can also freeze and cause the home’s foundation to crack. Downspout extenders divert water away from the home’s foundation and typically cost $6 to $15 each.
• Gutters usually need to be cleaned more often in regions that suffer from frequent storms because leaves and other debris build up in the gutter troughs more quickly.
• Many professional gutter cleaning companies offer maintenance contracts that provide repeat-customer discounts.
• Always get at least three quotes for gutter cleaning from gutter cleaning companies before deciding on the best one.
• Gutter cleaning companies typically charge more to clean under gutter guards because of the extra labor.