Month: September 2020

Signs That Your Gutters Were Poorly Installed

Signs That Your Gutters Were Poorly Installed

If you had your gutters installed or replaced recently and are experiencing problems with water damage or water flow, it is likely that the hardware was not put in correctly. Though it is often an easy fix, some of the damage caused by bad gutters can be serious. Here are some of the signs that your gutters were poorly installed.

Improper Pitch

When your gutters are installed, they need to be set at a certain angle to allow water to flow toward the downspout and exit. If the pitching of the gutter is off, this can result in pooling and overflowing water.

Detached Gutters

Detached gutters hanging off your home can be dangerous. This not only means that the system is not working, but it also poses a potential hazard. If there is a strong wind or storm, the gutter could become completely detached from the roof and fall onto something or someone below.

Ineffective Downspout Placement

Downspouts are needed to get the water from the gutters to the ground. However, if these downspouts are not placed at the right locations, water can have a difficult time finding its way out. This also results in pooling water in your gutters.

Clogged Gutters

It is no secret that items such as foliage can clog your gutters at any time. However, if your gutters were installed without protection or guards from falling leaves, then they will quickly and frequently get stopped up.

Leakage Inside Your Home

A very serious consequence of badly installed gutters is leakage inside your house. If you see water damage where your walls meet your roof, you could have gutter issues instead of roof problems.

Though these are just a few of the signs that your gutters were poorly installed, if you are experiencing any of these issues, you need to get them fixed right away. Contact one of our professionals at Gutter Maid to inquire about our gutter installation service and repairs.

How Do Professionals Clean Gutters? Best Way to Clean Gutters

How Professionals Clean Your Gutters

If you can clean your gutters yourself, why ever call a professional gutter cleaner? What is it that they do that makes professional gutter cleaning worth considering? How do professionals clean gutters?

Our gutter experts answer all your questions and will show you the best way to clean gutters like pro gutter cleaners. Read more below!

What does gutter cleaning include?

In general, gutter cleaning typically includes:

  • Gutter inspection
  • Debris and lead removal
  • Gutter pressure washing
  • Flushing

In addition, some gutter cleaners go a step further and also include:

  • Small gutter repairs like tightening the gutters
  • Roof inspection
  • Before and after pictures
  • No clog warranties

How to clean gutters like a professional

1. Get Professional Gutter Cleaning Tools

A professional gutter cleaner always has an arsenal of tools on hand to readily clean any debris, large or small. Typical pro gutter cleaners use a variety of tools including:

  • Extension ladders
  • Trowel
  • Bucket
  • Garden hose
  • Gloves
  • Safety goggles

In addition to enabling efficient work, all these tools protect pro gutter cleaners from debris as well as any potential pests.

2. Clean out Debris

professional gutter cleaning

Once the professional gutter cleaner is situated in a spot to efficiently clean your gutters, they’ll begin. Some pro gutter cleaners use the two-bucket method which involves one bucket for gathering debris and the other to hold tools. They hook these buckets to the ladder to keep balance.

Professional cleaners typically start with the downspout area and remove noticeable debris, like leaves, twigs, and more, and place it in the bucket. The trowel comes in handy to rake and gather smaller debris into removable piles. Latex gloves are also important to carry wet or damp debris.

3. Flush Out Gutters and Downspouts

downspout drainage

Finally, the last step in how professionals clean gutters are flushing out the gutters and downspouts. After the professionals remove all or most of the noticeable debris, they use the hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts.

This method removes dirt and grime that might be harder to remove by hand. This also allows the cleaners to spot any blocks if the water doesn’t drain properly. If requested, after everything is finished, the professional gutter cleaner can install gutter guards to protect them from future debris.

Here at Gutter Maid, we ensure premium gutter cleaning in Frederick, MD, at a reasonable price point. Our team of professional gutter cleaners delivers 100% satisfaction with worry-free scheduling and prompt service. Don’t believe us? Read our outstanding reviews on Angie’s List, Google, and Yelp.

Give us a call to schedule your gutter cleaning or installation at your townhome, apartment, or single-family home.