Get matched with top gutter cleaning pros in Schiller Park, IL

Using less toilet paper is the easiest way to prevent future clogs. Also, avoid flushing sanitary products, thick paper towels, or hair down the toilet. If you’ve been using a brick in the tank to reduce the water used to flush the toilet, take it out immediately. Bricks will eventually fall apart and clog your toilet drain. Keeping your toilet lid closed also helps avoid future clogs.

Yes, gutters can still get clogged even with gutter guards installed. While guards significantly reduce the amount of debris that enters your gutters, they are not 100% effective.

Small debris such as pine needles, seedlings, algae, small leaves, and pebbles can pass through the guard's screen or mesh and accumulate over time. Clogs can also form if the guards themselves are not cleaned and become overwhelmed with debris on top, preventing water from entering the gutter.

If this buildup is neglected, it can lead to clogs, water leaks, mold growth, and even plants sprouting from the gutters. The primary benefit of gutter guards is not the complete elimination of maintenance, but a dramatic reduction in how often you need to perform it, often from several times a year to just once a year or less.

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.

The cost to install a downspout extension or reroute a downspout generally falls between $30 and $200. The final price depends on factors like whether you DIY the project or hire a gutter professional, the complexity of your gutter system, and the length of the new extension. A simple, above-ground DIY installation can cost as little as $30 for materials. In contrast, a more complex project involving professional installation and digging trenches for underground piping could cost over $1,000. This is still a significant saving compared to replacing your entire gutter system, which costs around $1,900 on average.