Pressure washing is the most effective way ever devised to clean dirty driveways, sidewalks, decks, and even siding, and it makes the process of graffiti removal faster and easier than ever. There can be no doubt about that. However, there is quite a bit of doubt about one potential use for this equipment: cleaning the gutters.
Some will tell you flat out that you should never get a pressure washer near the gutters. But they’re usually companies who clean gutters by hand and charge by the hour. The truth is that pressure washers do a great job cleaning gutters. You need to make sure you hire a company with plenty of experience and the right equipment for washing the outside features of a home.
Terms to Know
- Downspout
- A vertical pipe attached to the gutter that carries collected rainwater from the gutter down to the ground level. Downspouts help ensure that water is directed away from the foundation of the house to prevent flooding and water damage.
- Elbow
- A curved or angled section of the downspout that allows the pipe to change direction. Elbows are used to connect the downspout to the gutter and to guide water around obstacles or changes in the building’s structure.
- Gutter Guard
- A protective cover or screen installed over the gutter to prevent leaves, debris, and other materials from entering and clogging the gutter system. Gutter guards help reduce maintenance and ensure that water flows freely through the gutters and downspouts.
- Section
- A single length of gutter, typically pre-manufactured and available in standard sizes. Sections can be joined together to form longer runs of gutters that span the length of the roofline. The seamless section gutters are popular for their reduced leakage risk.
How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned?
If you want to ensure your gutters are always ready to do their job channeling water from the roof to the downspouts and safely away from your house, you should have them cleaned at least once a year. We’d recommend scheduling professional gutter cleaning in the late fall and again in the early spring.
“At an absolute minimum, it’s advisable to clean gutters once in the fall to remove excess leaves and debris. This debris can keep water from moving through and out of the gutters. In the winter, standing water in these areas will freeze, causing the gutter to swell and crack. The effort or cost homeowners will spend on gutter cleaning pales in comparison to the cost of repairing the home’s foundation.”
—Evelyn Auer, Associate Editor at Bob Vila
The reason for cleaning your gutters in the late fall is obvious if you live in a leafy suburb where deciduous trees shed their leaves yearly. In areas with lots of trees, the gutters can become completely blocked with dead leaves to the point that they are useless. Also, when the leaves in the gutters become waterlogged, the added weight can cause the gutter to separate from the house.
The reason for cleaning your gutters in the spring is not so obvious but just as important. Not all leaves separate from their trees during the autumn months. Some hold on until December and even January. In addition, not all leaves that fall to the ground are collected. You don’t see people raking wooded areas, for instance. During the winter months, these leaves blow around, and many of them come to rest in gutters. Rain, snow, and cold temperatures then conspire to freeze the leaves in place. In springtime, it’s important to remove these winter wanderers so your gutters can do their job all summer long.
How Do Different Types of Gutters Compare?
The type of gutters installed on your home can significantly impact their maintenance requirements and overall performance. Different gutter materials come with unique challenges and benefits when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. The following table provides a detailed comparison of five common gutter types, focusing on their durability, maintenance needs and recommended frequency of cleanings.
| Type of Gutter | Benefits | Drawbacks | Estimated Lifespan | How Often to Clean | Maintenance Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Lightweight, rust-resistant, available in various colors | Can dent easily, may leak at seams | 20-30 years | Twice a year | Check for dents and leaks, repaint to prevent oxidation |
| Copper | Durable, aesthetically pleasing, doesn’t rust | Expensive, can develop a patina over time | 50+ years | Once a year | Regularly check for patina development |
| Vinyl | Inexpensive, easy to install, rust-free | Less durable in extreme weather, can become brittle and crack | 10-20 years | Twice a year | Inspect for cracks and sagging, ensure proper support |
| Steel | Very strong, handles heavy snow and ice, available in various colors | Prone to rust without proper maintenance, heavy | 20-30 years | Twice a year | Regularly check for rust, apply rust-resistant coating |
| Zinc | Extremely durable, low maintenance, rust-resistant | Very expensive, limited availability | 50+ years | Once a year | Regularly inspect for corrosion |
What We Use to Pressure Wash Gutters
Pressure washing is not rocket science but requires a steady, experienced hand using the right equipment. This is especially true when cleaning out the gutters with a pressure washer. In most cases, we can clean out the gutters on the average house in about an hour. However, it may take longer for a large house with gutters in hard-to-reach places. Here are the tools we employ to get the job done.
- The power washer — It all starts with the right equipment, and ours is a state of the art.
- A telescoping wand — To reach gutters on a second or third story, we use a telescoping wand capable of reaching more than 20 feet into the air.
- The gutter cleaning attachment — When working from the ground, we attach a curved nozzle to the telescoping wand that directs water down into the gutter.
- The right detergent — If detritus in the gutters has left them stained, we use a special stain-removing detergent to restore their original appearance.
- Safety gear — We operate with a “safety first” mentality and take all appropriate measures to keep everyone safe while working on your home or business.
Our Gutter Cleaning Process
We employ a systematic process when cleaning your gutters with a power washer. This ensures nothing is overlooked and the final result meets or exceeds your expectations. These are the steps we take:
Step One: Move Any Outdoor Furniture
Any furniture, flower pots, or other items that are in or around the work area are moved to safety to prevent damage by debris from falling from the gutters.
Step Two: Select the Appropriate Setting and Attachments
You can’t simply set the power washing equipment to maximum and have at it. Our technicians rely on their extensive experience cleaning different types of gutters to select the precise pressure setting and the right attachment for each gutter section.
Step Three: The Initial Cleaning
With the area clear and the proper equipment selected, the technician performs the initial cleaning, which entails removing leaves and other debris and clogs at the head of the downspout. This is a delicate process that requires a deft hand.
Step Four: Applying the Detergent
In most cases, dirt and grime remain in and on the gutters after removing most of the debris. To ensure a squeaky-clean finish, we apply a special detergent and use a specific nozzle designed to activate the detergent and wash away the grime.
Step Five: The Final Rinse
Once all the debris has been removed and the gutters cleaned using detergent, the technician performs a final rinse to ensure the gutter is thoroughly clean inside and out.
Step Six: The Cleanup
Just because your gutters are clean does not mean we’re finished. We treat every aspect of your property respectfully and ensure the work area is returned to a pristine state and that anything we move is returned to its rightful position.
FAQs
You can if you like. It’s your house, after all. However, we highly recommend that you use a qualified contractor like Majestic Exterior Cleaning. First, we have the experience to get the job done right and quickly. And second, in the extremely unlikely event of an accident, we are fully insured. By contrast, if you damage your house by cleaning the gutters yourself, you will be the one footing the repair bill.
Not if a qualified professional from Majestic Exterior Cleaning does it. Our technicians are rigorously trained to perform their job without producing collateral damage to the roof, soffits, and other parts of the house.
For an average-sized house with easily accessible gutters, we can often have the job done in an hour or so. However, a large house with 2 or 3 floors and multiple guttered dormers can take 2 or 3 hours.
Generally, we recommend having your gutters pressure washed at least twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall. This helps to prevent clogs and damage caused by accumulated debris, ensuring your gutters function properly throughout the year.
Gutters can collect a variety of debris including leaves, twigs, dirt, moss, and even bird nests. Regular cleaning helps to keep these blockages at bay and maintains the proper flow of water.
If you notice water overflowing from the gutters, plants growing in the gutters, sagging gutters, or staining on the siding of your house, it’s time to have your gutters cleaned.
Yes, pressure washing is safe for most types of gutters when done by a professional. Our team at Majestic Exterior Cleaning adjusts the pressure to suit the material of your gutters, ensuring effective cleaning without causing damage.
Yes, by keeping your gutters clean and free-flowing, pressure washing can help prevent the formation of ice dams in the winter. Proper drainage reduces the risk of ice build-up, which can cause significant damage to your roof and gutters.
Gutter guards significantly reduce the need for pressure washing gutters. By preventing debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt from entering the gutters, they keep the water flow unobstructed and clean. Consequently, this reduces the accumulation of dirt and the need for frequent pressure washing, extending the time between cleanings.
Yes, the installation of gutter guards can affect the effectiveness of pressure washing. When gutter guards are in place, they may hinder direct access to the gutter’s interior during pressure washing. This means that any accumulated fine debris under the guards might not be easily removed with pressure washing alone. It may require removing the guards for a thorough cleaning if significant buildup occurs.
Expert Power Washing in Dix Hills
Keeping your gutters clear of dirt and debris is essential for home maintenance. Unfortunately, cleaning the gutters manually has never been easy and often requires people to put themselves in dangerous positions. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning offers expert gutter cleaning services using our state-of-the-art power washer. To learn more or to arrange for us to clean your gutters, do an internet search for “pressure washing services near me,” or better yet, call 631-421-2295 today.
