The gutters do yeoman’s work channeling rainwater and snow melt into the downspouts and away from your house. But gutters are not self-cleaning and even the best gutters get clogged. Not responding to clogged gutters can produce an array of negative outcomes including roof damage, stains requiring pressure washing to remove, foundation damage as water spills over the gutters and lands next to the house, and more. This raises an important question: How often do your gutters need to be cleaned? Read on to find out.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Most home maintenance experts recommend having the gutters cleaned once or twice a year, depending on a number of factors. Those factors include:
The number and types of trees around your house
Different trees produce different types of material that can fall and clog your gutters. For instance, pine trees or eucalyptus shed needles all year round. If you have either one or both types of trees in close proximity to your house you will need to have your gutters cleaned twice a year. Maybe more often depending on how many trees are involved and how close they are to the house.
On the other hand, if your home is surrounded by maple, oak, elm or other deciduous trees that shed their leaves in the autumn a single, annual gutter cleaning should suffice. The most important thing in that case will be the timing of the cleaning. Experience teaches us that the best time to clean gutters clogged with fallen leaves is at the end of autumn, prior to extremely cold weather setting in.
Note: If trees are overhanging your roof it’s a good idea to have the branches trimmed back by an arborist. This will not only reduce the number of leaves in your gutters it will also reduce the odds that a fallen branch could damage your roof.
Severe weather events
You should always have the gutters inspected in the wake of severe weather events. High winds can tear leaves from tree branches and send all kinds of debris flying through the air only to land in your gutters. High winds can also damage the gutters themselves, ripping them from the house or causing branches to fall and loosen them.
Torrential rain can produce so much water that it too damages the gutters and downspouts. And in the aftermath of heavy snow storms it’s a good idea to have the gutters inspected because lots of heavy wet snow on the roof can put enormous strain on the gutters.
Where your home is located
It’s hard to find a part of Dix Hills that does not have a significant number of trees. But some parts of town have heavier canopies than elsewhere. If you live in a wooded section chances are good that your gutters are going to fill up with waste material from trees much faster than if your house is set back from the trees on your property.
Warning Signs That it’s Time to Clean Your Gutters
Birds or insects frequenting your gutters
If you notice birds keep returning to a specific part of your gutters it may indicate they are building or have built a nest there. Not good for your gutters or the birds. The same goes for hornets. If you notice hornets buzzing around your gutter it’s time to call Majestic to inspect the gutters, because it only takes a few short weeks for hornets to build a formidable nest.
The gutters are sagging
If you notice part of your gutter is sagging it is often a sign that there is a clog in the gutter at that point. If the clog is not dealt with in a timely fashion it could cause spillover from the gutter that damages the roof or siding.
Plants growing from the gutter
Everyone loves a nice flower box but you don’t want your gutter turning into one. If you notice weeds or saplings poking their head up over the side of the gutter, call Majestic. We’ll clear the dirt and debris and quickly restore your gutters to optimal working order.
Stains on your siding
When water overspills gutters it pours down the side of the house bringing all kinds of dirt and debris with it. If you live in Long Island and notice stains running down the side of your home, contact our service team. We’ll clear the obstruction from your gutters and one of our power washing experts will finish things up by washing the outside of the house where the stains were.
Standing water around your foundation
If you suddenly notice standing water near your foundation where there was none before it could indicate that the gutter up above is clogged and overflowing. Call the pros from Majestic. We’ll get to the heart of the matter in a jiffy.
The Benefits of Hiring a Professional to Clean Your Gutters
Professionals do this for a living
A pro will have all the necessary equipment at hand to get the job done quickly, safely, and effectively. They don’t need to take unnecessary risks when trying to reach the gutters because they have everything they need right on their truck.
Professionals are experienced
Not only will the professional show up with all the right equipment, but they also have the experience necessary to employ that equipment in the most effective way.
Professionals do a thorough job
If professionals do a shoddy, incomplete job word will get around and they’ll soon be out of business. They are, therefore, highly motivated to do a thorough job.
Professionals are insured
If you hire someone from the neighborhood to clean your gutters and they wind up damaging them, or the house, or they wind up falling from a ladder and getting injured guess who is liable? That’s right. You. By contrast the pros at Majestic are fully insured against damage or injury.
Gutter Cleaning FAQs
Is pressure washing a good way to clean my gutters?
There are attachments that can be used to safely power wash gutters, but the technician will need to inspect the gutters first to determine if that is the right course of action. In some cases, it will be. In other cases, a more deliberate, hands-on method will be called for.
What happens if I don’t clean my gutters?
As sure as the sun rises your gutters will eventually become clogged and stop working properly. The results can range from water leaking into the attic to water stains on the side of the house, to the gutter becoming weighed down and tearing away from the house. If the gutters are clogged you also run the risk of foundation damage from water landing where it shouldn’t, and damage to your landscaping.
What is the best time of year to have the gutters cleaned?
The late autumn after the leaves have fallen and before serious cold and snow begins is the ideal time to clean the gutters. This will ensure they will handle snow runoff properly and that they’ll be in good working order when spring rains arrive.
Can’t I just install gutter guards?
Gutter guards are the ultimate mixed blessing. Yes, they’ll do a good job keeping leaves and other debris out of your gutters, but all those leaves that don’t end up in the gutter often end up on top of the gutter guard where they can prevent water from draining off the roof properly. When that happens you will need to have the gutter guards cleaned.
For Expert Long Island Pressure Washing, Contact Majestic
If you need to have your gutters cleaned get in touch with the experts at Majestic. We have years of experience and state-of-the-art equipment to deal with the gnarliest clogs in the most out-of-the-way places. We’re easy to find, search for “pressure washing services near me” or call us at 631-421-2295.