Get matched with top gutter cleaning pros in Chinatown, NY

Icicles don't necessarily mean your gutters are clogged or bad, but they can indicate an underlying issue. While clogged gutters can cause icicles to form, the problem could also be an ice dam on your roof from poor insulation. In that case, melting snow can refreeze in the gutter even without a clog. Regardless of the cause, the weight of the ice can damage your gutters or even rip them completely off the house. If you are unsure of the underlying problem, it's best to call a roofing company to assess the issue and implement a permanent solution.

Yes, there are several downsides to installing rain chains. For one, rain chains have a lower flow capacity than a typical gutter and downspout system. This means that if there is a rainstorm, the rain chain can stop working completely. Rain chains also cannot redirect rainwater away from your house. In homes with a sloped yard, this could cause water damage in your foundation or basement. 

On a typical three-bedroom home, gutter cleaning takes about one hour. For larger homes, especially those with multiple stories, the job can take two to three hours. The time required may increase if the gutters need extensive cleaning, the roof is steep, the gutters are hard to reach, or if gutter guards need to be uninstalled and reinstalled.

Downspouts channel water from your roof and gutters into the ground following a specific route so water doesn’t accumulate around your house’s foundation. Without a downspout, the standing water will wash away material and disrupt the soil, leading to foundation erosion. The standing water will also form ice around your house during cold weather, causing a safety hazard.