Category: Gutter Cleaning

You’ve probably heard that you should tend to your gutters at least once or twice a year — usually during the more temperate seasons like spring and fall. But we all know how busy homeowners can get. You probably have a lot of home upkeep tasks to tend to, which can make it easy to fall behind in some areas. But your roof and gutter maintenance shouldn’t fall by the wayside. If you do ignore your need for gutter cleaning services, you could face some serious issues that will end up costing a lot of time and money to repair. Let’s take a look at the three risks you take when you don’t hire a gutter cleaning company on a regular basis.

Structural Damage

One of the biggest issues you might face when you fail to hire professional gutter cleaners is the extensive damage clogged gutters can do to your home. If water overflows from those clogs, it can be directed right down to your home’s foundation. This can subsequently soften the soil and lead to foundation cracks. Not only can this be difficult and expensive to fix, but it can even jeopardize the structural integrity of the entire building. In addition, clogged gutters can cause wood in your home to rot, which can then spread to areas like the attic. These clogged gutters can also cause roof damage and eventually allow water to seep into your home through leaks, which can be challenging to detect and repair. Of course, this can even lead to flooding, which isn’t surprising when you consider that clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water problems. Ultimately, gutter cleaning technicians can protect your home from the elements — and prevention is always far simpler than damage control.

Infestations and Illnesses

You might not realize it, but forgetting to hire a gutter cleaning company can actually put your loved ones’ health at risk. That’s because clogged gutters can make your home more attractive to all kinds of pests, such as termites, ants, and rodents. The rotting leaves and branches that get stuck in your gutters are tantalizing to many of these creatures, as is standing water. And if your home sustains any structural damage as a result of clogged gutters, it’ll be even easier for these pests to find their way inside. Not only can they do a lot of damage to your home, but some animals can eat through wiring and cause a fire hazard. Others carry diseases that can make your family sick. What’s more, mold can grow as a result of ignored water damage — and that can be a problem for family members with respiratory issues. Keep in mind that seasonal allergens will also be able to infiltrate your home more easily when your gutters are clogged, which means your loved ones might not feel quite so healthy as they could this spring if you don’t work with a gutter cleaning company.

Landscaping Issues

Dealing with damage to both the interior and exterior of your home should be enough to convince you to call your gutter cleaning company this spring. But you’ll actually risk even more property problems if you don’t clean out your gutters. The water that ends up overflowing from your gutters can actually do irreparable harm to any grass and plants located below. The water will wash away mulch, which can hurt the soil on which your plants rely. The erosion can be so substantial that you may not be able to salvage that portion of your landscaping. Your driveway can also become damaged as a result of your damaged gutters, leading to cracks, holes, and uneven surfaces. It may mean you’ll end up paying for driveway repairs or even replacement before too long — and it can be a safety hazard for both residents and visitors.

Given all the risks you’ll take by not attending to your gutters this spring, hiring a professional gutter cleaning company sounds like an excellent idea. Contact us now to make your appointment for spring cleaning — and by doing so, you’ll likely be able to avoid all of the headaches listed here.

Gutters are a hardworking part of your home, ensuring that you and your home stay protected from the elements. However, many homeowners overlook the significant role gutters play in protecting your home and don’t engage in maintaining or repairing their gutters as often as they should. It’s understandable — they’re not a part of your home that’s considered very much, and hiking up a ladder twice a year can feel like a daunting task when you’re already pressed for time and just keeping your floors clean feels like a big achievement. But let’s talk about why it’s so important for your gutters to be cleaned out and in good shape, and why you should hire a gutter cleaning company.

Take a Minute for Your Gutters 

Your gutters run along the edge of your roof and connect to downspouts, which funnel water away from your siding and foundation. There are two main types of gutter shapes — half-round and K-style. The K-style is often what people picture when they think of gutters. Generally speaking, you need about one downspout for every 30 to 40 linear feet of gutter. The more downspouts you have, the greater the capacity of your gutter system.

The most popular material for gutters is aluminum, followed by copper, steel, and vinyl. When thinking about the size of your gutter, remember that bigger isn’t always better. If you live in icy temperatures, ice buildup and snow in big gutters can weigh it down and cause it to break.

And just a reminder — your gutters should be cleaned out twice a year! We’ll get to why that’s important in the next section, below.

Why Is Keeping My Gutters Clean So Important? 

A gutter’s primary function is to keep water damage from impacting your roof, keeping water away from the foundation entirely, and preventing moisture from collecting in your windows. Water damage to your roof can significantly reduce its lifespan, cause rot and mold, and present you with an expensive roof repair or replacement cost.

Moisture in the windows causes your windows to fog up between panes with condensation and can negatively impact your windowsill or inside walls. And bad gutters can mean basement flooding, erosion around your foundation, or straight up damage to your foundation, all of which are a homeowner’s nightmare. Indeed, clogged gutters are the top reason homeowners face issues with water in their basement.

Think about it this way — one inch of rain in the summer puts nearly 1,500 gallons of water on your roof. That water has to go somewhere. Every gallon of water weighs about eight pounds. If your gutters are clogged and the water can’t run through them, they’ll be supporting thousands of pounds in water — not good news for them.

Be smart about your home maintenance and simply keep up with clearing debris out of your gutters and doing routine inspections to make sure that everything is working as it should.

Why Should I Hire a Gutter Cleaning Company? 

Let’s face it — a house is a lot of work. And sometimes we can’t always get to everything we want to get to. That’s where professional gutter cleaners come in. They might also work for a larger company that can handle gutter installation and gutter replacement if necessary. A gutter cleaning company can make that twice a year cleaning easy as pie. They’re professionals, so they come equipped with the tools and know-how to make it extremely quick and easy.

Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company takes the stress, time, and hassle out of doing it yourself, but still ensures that the job gets done when it needs to. If you schedule it in twice a year, that part of your home maintenance is all set without any further thought!

Do yourself a favor and look into professional gutter cleaning companies. They’ll make it easy to check at least one homeowner’s task off your list every year.

You know how important it is to clean out your gutters after the fall since all those leaves are likely blocking water and leading to potential household problems. But it’s even more imperative to keep your gutters clean and working properly over the winter.

Even the slightest problem with your gutters can lead to major, costly, and damaging issues down the line. In fact, clogged gutters are actually the number one cause of basement water problems. In order to avoid basement flooding and mold growth, as well as other structural damage to your home, it’s important to take excellent care of your gutters over the winter.

Here are some great homeowner tips for limiting and preventing serious winter damage to your gutters:

• Hire professional gutter cleaners — No matter how often you get on your roof and clean out your gutters, you’re never going to be 100% sure they are thoroughly clean and working correctly without the help of professional gutter cleaners. Luckily, you can work with a quality gutter cleaning company that can offer not just cleaning assistance, but gutter replacement and gutter installation services, as well.
• Regularly inspect your gutters and roof — Even after you’ve had your gutters thoroughly cleaned or repaired, you should take a look at your roof and every inch of your gutters every few weeks to make sure there aren’t any breaks or blockages. Make sure there aren’t any gaps or leaks within your gutters or visual damages to your roof.
• Upgrade your insulation — Insulation is key for a home over the winter in order to keep your family comfortable, heating costs down, and avoid other issues. But insulation can also ensure the best performance for your gutters. Quality insulation and ventilation can prevent ice dams from forming in your gutters and on your roof, subsequently stopping further damage from occurring.

If you are ready to ensure that your home’s gutters are ready for the new year and want to work with professional gutter cleaners, give Gutter Maid a call right away!

As a homeowner, one of your main responsibilities involves taking care of your home’s roof and gutters. Though you should be cleaning out your gutters a few times a month over the summer, you must not neglect your rooftop over the winter.

Even excellent rooftops that are in great condition need to be handled properly. But lower-quality roofs, as well as roofs that are over 20 years old, have a much greater likelihood of succumbing to harsh winter weather conditions like snow accumulation, high winds, and ice buildup. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your roof and gutters over the winter.

Here are some great winter gutter maintenance and cleaning tips:

• Inspect for structural damage — First, before you do anything, you should inspect your gutters to see if there is already serious damage that has occurred. Inspect seams and anchors, examine fascia, siding, foundation, search for leaks, and look for signs of staining, rotting, and other water-related damage. You might need major roofing repair work or gutter replacement, which should be addressed before general maintenance tasks. Make sure you’re being extremely careful whenever getting on top of your home’s roof. It’s best to let a family member or neighbor know whenever you go onto your roof so someone is aware you’re up there just in case you fall.

• Consult with a professional gutter cleaning service provider — Whether you’re in need of some thorough repair jobs or complete gutter replacement, you shouldn’t do everything yourself if you want to ensure home, roof, and gutter protection over the winter. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company is a great way to keep gutters clean and protected over the winter, subsequently saving your time, money, and stress in the long run.

• Utilize heat tape and de-icer — Install heat tape on the gutters to remove any ice blockage that might have occurred from water freezing inside the gutter and troughs. Since untreated ice blockage can create water damage on the roof, de-icer and heating tape are great for preserving your home’s structure over the winter.

If you want to learn more about taking care of your gutters over the winter or hire professional gutter replacement and gutter cleaning services, give Gutter Maid a call today!

There are literally hundreds of important aspects that you need to focus on as a homeowner. There are plenty of obvious ones, sure, including grocery shopping, household cleanliness, and general maintenance care; but there are lots of other things you need to focus on that might not come to mind right away.

Here are some important questions you should be aware of when it comes to first-time home ownership:

• How often should gutters be cleaned? — Clogged gutters are actually the number one cause of basement water problems. Since an inch of rainfall can pour nearly 1,500 gallons of water onto your roof, each gallon weighing eight pounds, your home is in serious danger of suffering from major damages. Therefore, when it comes to answering how often should gutters be cleaned, it’s recommended to have your gutters cleaned at least two or three times a year. Keep in mind, it’s best to consult with a professional gutter cleaning service provider to ensure that you’re properly handling your roof and gutters. Cleaning out a few leaves can be done by yourself, but hiring a professional gutter cleaning company is a much better idea if you need a thorough cleaning, gutter installation, or gutter replacement work done as well.

• How can I keep my windows looking great? — If you truly want to have beautiful windows on your home, you need to keep them clean at all times. In fact, it’s recommended to thoroughly clean your windows close to once a week. Plenty of homeowners wash the inside of their windows but ignore the exterior, where the majority of window grime is located. Grab a squeegee, a bucket of soapy water, and some dry towels and get to work turning your dirty windows into amazing-looking fixtures.

• Who is going to tend to the landscape? — If you’re unable to perform various landscaping duties like lawn mowing, gardening, and similar tasks, you should have an idea of who can assist you so your landscape doesn’t deteriorate over time. Either work with a professional landscaping service or ask a family member to help you out. If you can perform these outdoor tasks, get to work!

If you’re still unsure of how often should gutters be cleaned and want to work with professional gutter cleaning service providers, give Gutter Maid a call right away.

As a homeowner, you might not spend all that much time thinking about gutter installation, maintenance, and cleaning — but you probably should. Gutter issues are structural issues and can even cause molding and similar water-damaging problems in your basement and throughout the rest of your home.

Properly tending to your gutters isn’t as easy as it sounds, either. There are so many things you need to be aware of because a few incorrect moves and you’ll end up spending a significant amount of money on maintenance and repair work.

Here are some common gutter installation, cleaning, and maintenance mistakes that homeowners should avoid at all costs:

• Installing gutters with an incorrect pitch — Miscalculating the pitch can lead to serious foundational damages over time, which is why it’s recommended to work with professional gutter replacement and installation services, as well as gutter cleaning services. These professionals can help ensure that the pitch is installed correctly and not too level in order to mess up water flow.

• Not adding enough downspouts or correctly placing them — In order to increase the capacity of your home’s gutter system, you need to add more downspouts. It’s recommended to add another downspout for about every 30 to 40 linear feet of your gutter.

• Hugging the edge of the roof — Gutters should be placed alongside the roofline, but not directly on top of it. They need space so they can perform properly. Positioning them a few inches below the roof overhang ensure that runoff water will evenly flow into the gutter and head towards the downspouts without spilling over.

• Working without a net — Any time you go onto your roof, for whatever reason, you need to ensure you’re being as safe as possible. Netting can help protect you from serious fall damage. Give a neighbor or family member a shout before you begin your rooftop work, too, so someone is aware you’re on the roof.

If you want to learn more about properly tending to your gutters or are considering hiring a professional gutter cleaning company for gutter installation, replacement, and cleaning services — give Gutter Maid a call right away.

The summer and the brutal heat are finally on their way out! Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that your responsibilities as a homeowner have to take a back seat until the winter. You need to keep your home secure and clean during the fall in order to prevent all kinds of issues.

Your gutters, for instance, are in serious jeopardy during the fall. If they are left unattended, they can cause major issues as soon as the winter snow arrives. Even an inch of summer rain can result in approximately 1,500 gallons of water falling onto your home’s roof and inside your gutters. On top of that, each gallon of that rainfall weighs eight pounds, and that doesn’t include the added burden of falling leaves and branches. As a result, clogged and overflowing gutters can cause serious damage to your home. Overflowing gutters can pull away from the home, damaging siding and roofing. Plus, all that water can end up causing water damage to your home’s interior and foundation.

Your best bet for taking excellent care of your home’s gutters during the fall, winter, and summer is to consult with professional gutter cleaning services. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning company can help you avoid some of these costly and damaging problems that can occur due to overflowing and clogged gutters. From gutter replacement to leaf guard installation, these gutter cleaning services can help prepare your home’s gutters for any season.

There are, however, a few extra steps you can do to take better care of your gutters. Here are some fall steps to keep in mind that should help keep your gutters clean for a while:

• Remove all your gutter covers and start clearing all the leaves, water, and debris out. It’s best to wear gloves during this step, as well.

• Flush the gutters using a garden hose to wash out all the other smaller particles.

• Inspect your downspouts for clogs if water isn’t flowing properly.

Keep in mind, you need to always be focusing on safety when performing any tasks on your home’s roof. Wear the right safety gear, have a friend or family member nearby as a spotter, and never go onto your roof if you’re not feeling well or are impaired.

If your home isn’t ready for the upcoming fall season and you’re in need of working with professional gutter cleaning services, give Gutter Maid a call right away.