"Glad that I reached out to Kelci, she’s been nothing but helpful and responsive from our initial phone call. Definite repeat customer here. Found good help for a good price and recommend her to anyone. She’s stepped up exceeding my expectations of being able to help out with moving into new home & helping organize as well as Top Notch cleaning services."
"David is wonderful. He did a terrific job on a house with many windows on various levels. I have recommended him to my neighbors and will use him again this coming summer."
Absolutely—and lots of it. Overflowing water from your gutters can damage your siding and your roof. All of the moisture getting into the cracks and crevices of your home can lead to mold or mildew problems down the line. In addition, when water pools around your home, it needs a place to go—and sometimes it ends up inside the house, creating a very unwanted flood.
If you want to avoid burying your downspouts, several alternatives can help direct water away from your home's foundation. One option is to connect a rain barrel to your downspout. During a storm, the barrel collects water that you can later use for irrigating your lawn or garden. Another common solution is to install an above-ground downspout extension. This can be done in a couple of ways:
Splash Guards: Placing a splash guard, available at most hardware stores, under your downspout can act as a simple funnel to direct water away from the house.
Downspout Extensions: You can add an extension to the end of the downspout's elbow to carry water further into your yard. Some extensions are flexible, allowing you to maneuver them around landscaping.
These above-ground solutions are particularly useful if your home has a slab foundation that you cannot dig up. However, they have limitations. An extension may not move water as far from your home as an underground system. More importantly, if your yard slopes back toward your house, these methods will be ineffective, and burying your downspouts remains the best option to prevent potential flooding and water damage.
If your gutters are out of reach, a leaf blower with a gutter cleaning attachment can help blow out leaves and dirt. You can also consider using a telescoping gutter cleaning tool, which extends your reach while allowing you to clean from the ground. These tools often have adjustable attachments, such as brushes or hoses, to clear debris effectively. If these options aren’t practical, hiring a professional is a safe and efficient way to clean your gutters without risking injury.
Any small amount of standing water can be damaging to your gutters. It’s recommended that a ¼ inch puddle or more should be addressed. Failure to keep water from pooling in your gutters can result in clogs, algae growth, and pests that damage your gutters over time.
The most common problem with gutters is clogging from debris like leaves, blossoms, and seeds from surrounding trees. This debris can block downspouts, leading to improper drainage and water overflow.
Other common issues include:
Leaks and holes, which can often be repaired with gutter sealant or caulk.
Rust, sagging, or detachment from the roofline.
Damage from strong storms.
Improperly pitched gutters that don't drain correctly.
Regular cleaning in the spring and fall is the best way to prevent most of these problems. You may need to clean them more often during periods of heavy leaf fall.
The Sand Point, AK homeowners’ guide to gutter cleaning services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
This guide to gutter cleaning costs provides estimates for cleaning different types of gutters, tips for saving money on gutter cleaning, and answers to how to clean gutters.
This guide on how to clean the outside of gutters offers tips for how to remove debris, grime, black spots, and streaks from gutters to get them to last as long as possible.
What is gutter cleaning, and why is it important? From benefits and cost to recommended cleaning frequency, we bring you essential gutter cleaning basics you need to know.
