GUTTER CLEANING FAQ:
- What is a gutter?
- A gutter is like a long, narrow bucket that catches water and funnels it away from your home or structure.
- What is a downspout?
- A downspout is a vertical pipe that drains water away from your home. It is usually about 5 inches in diameter. They are usually placed at the corners of buildings.
- How does a gutter work?
- Gutters are installed along the edges of a roof to collect rainwater as it falls. They are shaped as a semicircle to effectively gather water.
- How do gutters get clogged?
- Leaves, twigs, dirt, and other natural debris can fall into gutters leading to blockages. Additionally, nests built by birds or other animals cause blockages.
- How often should I get my gutters cleaned?
- The short answer is every home is different! If your home is further from trees, you could be able to get away with getting your gutters cleaned once annually. If your home is closer to trees, you might be looking at getting your gutters cleaned every month. It only takes 4-6 leaves to clog a section of gutters or a downspout.
- What are some other reasons I should get my gutters cleaned?
- Clogged gutters can serve as a nesting and breeding place for rats, mice, insects, birds and mosquitos that can carry diseases! This is not only harmful for your family members but also for pets! Malaria, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus and so many more diseases are carried from insects and mosquitos. Keeping your home clean can lessen the chances of attracting animals carrying these diseases.
- A group of leaves in a dry climate can be like a DuraFlame log sitting on top of your home! As leaves accumulate in your gutters with no moisture in the dry months, a few degrees too warm, a bbq ember or even a leftover spark from some fireworks can start a house fire!
- Water damage in or around the home can cause thousands of dollars of damage in repairs affecting flooring, furniture, priceless personal artifacts and so much more!
- A gutter cleaning averaging around $500 can save $20,000-$50,000 on a new roof!
- Do I need a gutter cleaning if I have gutter guards?
- YES! A common misconception about gutter guards is that they do not need to be maintained. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. While gutter guards do a great job at keeping debris out of gutters, it is still recommended to be maintained at least once annually by most manufacturers.
- I recently got my gutters cleaned but it seems they are clogged again. How does this happen?
- Unfortunately, it only takes a handful of leaves or a few days of birds making a nest to clog a gutter. This is why it is important to consistently maintain gutters.
- How do I choose a gutter cleaner?
- As a homeowner, you may be financially targeted if a worker is injured on your premises. That is why we always recommend checking if the company you are hiring has Workers Compensation Insurance.
- To find out if a company in California has Worker’s Compensation, click here
- It is still surprising how many companies misrepresent their Worker’s Compensation status. Some companies will say things like ‘We are fully covered!’ but fail to mention that the majority of the worker’s going onto a job site is not a full time employee, but an uninsured subcontractor. What does this mean to you? If an uninsured subcontractor gets hurt while cleaning your gutters, you can be held liable. Don’t forget to ask the company you are hiring if ALL technicians under them are full time employees covered under Worker’s Compensation or if some are uninsured subcontractors.
