How Often Should I Clean My Gutters?

Gutter Cleaning Basics

Gutter cleaning is important for many reasons. One reason is that if your gutters are clogged, it will be difficult to get rid of any excess water from your roof. This could lead to water damage in your home or even lead to flooding if the water overflows into your basement. Another reason is that when you have a clogged gutter, it can cause water damage to your home and can even cause damage to your foundation.

Determining how often you should clean your gutters really depends on your own personal situation and can involve many factors. Having a lot of trees overhanging your roof, living in an area prone to a lot of rainfall or having an older roof are just some of the things that can alter how often you may need to have your gutters cleaned.

Clean Gutters Can Prevent

Having clean gutters not only makes your home look better, it also prevents a lot of gutter issues from ever happening in the first place. A few simple steps done at regular intervals can help you keep your gutters functioning at peak capacity longer.

Gutter Clogs

Gutter clogs can occur when leaves and other debris gets choked where your gutters meet your downspouts. If the leaves or debris are big, these areas can become blocked quickly. In cases of hard Florida summer afternoon thunderstorms, your gutters can easily become overwhelmed sending water spilling out in all directions.

There are different types of gutter protectors available but many don’t do what they say they will or last as long as they should. Contact us at 904-759-9800 to learn which types of leaf guards we use and why.

Gutter Smells

Standing water in your gutters coupled with our scorching Florida heat can quickly bring mold, bacteria and wood rot. This can not only smell really bad but if not removed, can work its way into your home’s facia and roof. A simple fix can stop this before it takes over.

If gutters are not installed properly they may not have the proper slope and cannot drain water as they should which can lead to large areas of standing water.

Damage To Your Home

Unclean gutters can lead to

• Roof and Soffit Damage – Replacing your roof or soffits can be a very costly byproduct of unclean gutters.
• Foundation Cracking – Water is very powerful and if not diverted away from your home’s foundation can damage it quickly.
• Driveway Damage – Water seeping into the driveway over time can cause expansion and cracks to form.
• Yard Erosion or Flooding – Summer rain downpours can rapidly dig channels in your yard or flood large areas killing your lawn and garden.
• Pest Invasions – Insect colonies and small mammals, like rats, love clogged gutters and are more than ready to make a home for themselves.

Gutter Cleaning Schedule

This really depends on what you feel is needed based on several things such as how many leaves / debris have collected and at what time of year. Our recommendation would be at a minimum, twice a year, once in the spring just before the Florida summer rains and again in the fall. We also suggest gutter cleaning in the morning or late afternoon never in the middle of the day.

Cleaning Gutters Myself

Gutter Cleaning Issues

While gutter cleaning seems fairly straightforward and almost anyone can do it, there are some things to consider before tackling the project on your well deserved weekend.

• Be Careful of Heights – Even though its not that high, there have been many people that have fallen and hurt themselves unfortunately.
• You Might Find Some Critters – Hornets, bees, biting ants, rats and more could all be lurking in your gutters without you even knowing. Don’t find out the hard way with a handful of leaves at the top of a ladder.
• An Existing Warranty Might Be Voided – If you still have a pre-existing warranty on your gutters, make sure that by doing anything with the gutter you are not voiding it.
• It’s Hot in Florida – No really. the Florida heat can overtake the strongest of us quickly causing heat stroke or dizziness. Be very careful out there.
• Have Your Tools Ready – Place your leaves or debris directly in a garbage bag rather than throwing it down to the lawn. This keeps things clean and allows you to avoid cleaning up a second time later.

 

How to Clean Your Own Gutters

• Use the right tools – Ladders should be tall enough to clear the gutter so you can easily look in without losing your balance. Wearing gloves and a long sleeve shirt also help in case there are animals in the gutter.
• Do a quick visual inspection – Look for any large clumps of leaves or debris and be careful removing them. We suggest moving a few leaves first to see if anything comes out.
• Flush the Gutters – You shouldn’t need a pressure washer to flush the gutters. A regular garden hose should do the trick if you’ve removed all the debris.
• Pay Special Attention to Downspouts – These can get clogged inside where you can’t see or reach. Check the water flow coming out the bottom to see if they are clogged. Moving a hose down them may be enough to dislodge any debris.
• Check for Leaks – Now is a great time to spot check for gutter leaks. Look for any water finding its way between the gutter top and the roof line.

 

Finally, if it won’t hurt your home’s curb appeal, we suggest cutting back any larger tree branches that may overhang your roof as a preventative measure against future clogs.

Hiring a Gutter Cleaner

• Experience Matters – Choosing someone who has been installing for a while ensures they are not using your house to learn on. If they’ve been around a while, they are probably pretty good at what they do.
• Lowest Price Isn’t Always the Best – Getting a great deal today may not be so great in the long run if you have to have your gutters redone sooner than you thought or repairs are needed.
• Check their Reviews – Testimonials from previous gutter customers can have a huge influence on whether or not a gutter company is a good fit for you.
• Listening to Your Needs – Do they want to help you with your particular gutter issues?

Why Choose Benchmark Quality Gutters?

Benchmark Quality Gutters have been helping North Florida home owners with their gutter problems for over 27 years. Our gutter services are next to none and we have 100s of 5 star reviews from our satisfied gutter customers.

Our prices are competitive and fair. We never charge over the top rates nor do we bid as low as possible to win your gutter job. We never sacrifice quality when it comes to our materials or work.

We work with you to determine what’s best for your home and situation. We listen to and address all your concerns every step of the way. Your satisfaction is our first priority.

Whether your gutters need cleaning, you have standing water or mold, problems with clogging or foul odors we can help. Our professional team take pride in every gutter job they do.

Conclusion

Gutter maintenance doesn’t have to be hard. A little common sense and a few checks every year are all it takes to keep your gutters newer longer. Keep water away from your roof and foundation with these simple gutter cleaning steps.