You know your gutters need to be cleaned, but how should you handle it? We’re comparing DIY and Professional cleanings so you can find out which is right for you.
Gutter Cleaning 101
Clean gutters work the best. They can collect more rain and guide it away from your home to protect your foundation just as intended. Over time, leaves, dirt, and debris can find their way into your gutter system. Without regular maintenance, they can cause some serious problems. To maintain optimal conditions and extend the lifespan of your gutters, it is recommended that you clean them quarterly. Many people can DIY their gutter cleaning. However, many others prefer to let professionals handle this task, so they have peace of mind knowing it’s done right.
Why is Regularly Cleaning Your Gutters Important?
Gutters can fill up pretty quickly with leaves, sticks, dirt, debris, and even pesky animals like rodents or birds’ nests. Even gutter systems with gutter guards require regular maintenance to stay functioning properly. Cleaning helps make way for more rainfall to flow through the gutters as it collects off your roof. When those gutters work properly, water moves quickly to drain away from your home. When clogs or damage restrict the water flow, it can send water onto the ground below. Over time that can seep into your home and damage the gutters even more. If you decide on DIY maintenance, you’ll want to learn about common gutter problems to know what to keep an eye out for when inspecting them.
Protecting Your Home’s Foundation from Water Damage
Water flowing over the edges of your gutters and onto the ground beside your home’s foundation can do more damage than you’d think. When excess water collects at the foot of your foundation, it can seep into the ground and impact your home’s health. Foundational cracks, mold and mildew, flooding, and leaks are all symptoms of gutters that didn’t move water away in the proper manner. Gutters have an important job in protecting your home from damage.
The Breakdown: DIY vs Professional Gutter Cleaning
Pros
The Pros of DIY Cleaning
Learning how to handle regular maintenance needs can give you a confidence boost, knowing you’re able to maintain a home yourself. You’ll likely find gutter cleaning is fairly simple once you have the proper tools and do it a few times, and practice makes perfect.
The Pros of Professional Gutter Cleaning
Professionals are highly skilled at their vocation and will complete the job much faster than an amateur. These professionals are also able to spot damage. They’ll check pitch and alignment and inspect your gutter seams for early signs of damage. They’ll also bring tools most homeowners won’t have and take additional steps like flushing downspouts that leave your gutters extra clean. By running a water test and fully inspecting gutter sealant and other details, they’ll make sure everything is working properly for years to come.
Cons
Cons of Professional Gutter Cleaning
While it’s a relatively inexpensive home service, professionals do cost more to hire than volunteering your own time. You’ll also have to dedicate some time to scheduling or get on a regular gutter maintenance plan. The size and shape of your home may dictate some aspects of pricing; for example, taller properties will be more challenging to access.
Cons of DIY Cleaning
Gutter cleaning is a fairly dangerous chore. Getting up on a ladder, using both hands to scoop and clean the debris and dirt from your gutters, rinsing it out, and checking for damage can take some time. If you won’t be comfortable or safe on a ladder for that long, it’s not a good decision. DIY also means you need to have the right tools on hand– a gutter scooper, ladder, lawn bags, hose with good water pressure and a spray nozzle, and safety equipment to avoid serious injuries. Ultimately, the highest cost of DIY can be missing early signs of damage that lead to bigger problems and expensive repairs down the road.
Which Costs More? Professional or DIY Gutter Cleaning
A professional gutter cleaning service might cost less than you think. At Aereotech, we offer a free on-site estimate for our services so you avoid being overcharged for services you don’t need. All our cleanings also come with the peace of mind that the job was done right. You didn’t have to do any ladder work, and your gutters have been professionally inspected for damage to avoid costly repairs– that’s a win-win.
Some gutter accessories, like gutter guards, can help extend the time between cleanings. If you live in an environment surrounded by a lot of trees, this could help reduce the number of annual cleanings you need. Over time, gutter guards do pay for themselves for homeowners in high-debris areas. Even with gutter guards, you will still need regular cleanings and maintenance.
DIY gutter cleaning isn’t as free as you might think. You’ll need to round up the proper tools: a gutter scoop, garden hose, ladder, and any other proper equipment your gutter system might need. After you buy all of that, you’ll have to find level ground for your ladder and risk injury getting up to the roof level. You’ll also need to think about personal protective gear when dealing with mold growth, pests, or animal droppings. Consider your budget and comfort level with these risks before committing to a DIY route.
Ready to Call in the Pros?
Before diving into YouTube spiral about how to DIY your own cleaning, shouldn’t you at least get a FREE estimate from Aerotech’s gutter experts? You might be surprised at how affordable regular professional gutter cleaning can be! Contact our team to get your free estimate tailored to your home today!
We’re Here to Serve!
Aerotech brings over 34 years of gutter expertise to every job. We’re fully insured, so you will have peace of mind that the job will be completed safely and efficiently every time.
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