Q: How much does professional gutter cleaning cost?

• <div><p>Hiring a <a href="https://www.angi.com/nearme/gutter-cleaners/">local gutter cleaner</a> costs an average of <b>$119 to $228</b>. For many homeowners, it&rsquo;s worth bringing in a pro to make sure there&rsquo;s a regular cleaning schedule and that the job is done thoroughly. A pro can also inspect your gutters and roofline and flag any issues before you start experiencing costly mold, rot, or water damage.</p></div>

Question 1

How much does professional gutter cleaning cost?

Accepted Answer

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Hiring a local gutter cleaner costs an average of $119 to $228. For many homeowners, it’s worth bringing in a pro to make sure there’s a regular cleaning schedule and that the job is done thoroughly. A pro can also inspect your gutters and roofline and flag any issues before you start experiencing costly mold, rot, or water damage.

Question 2

How do you avoid future clogs?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 3

What are the alternatives to underground or buried downspouts?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 4

How do I maintain galvanized gutters?

Accepted Answer

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Regular cleaning, applying rust-resistant coatings, and checking for leaks help extend their lifespan.

Question 5

​​Do buried downspouts freeze?

Accepted Answer

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Buried downspouts can freeze during cold weather as cold water runs through them. If you’ve discovered your downspouts are frozen, you can carefully pour hot water down the top of the downspout to defrost them. If that doesn’t work, you may need to dig your downspout back up. Avoid trying to break the ice from the exterior using a hammer as this can cause cracks and damage to your downspout.

To avoid freezing the future, consider adding a heating cable to the exterior, which can adjust heat based on the surrounding temperature.