Are you wondering how much gutter cleaning costs for your house? With every other home maintenance task, you might be putting off cleaning them. This detailed guide provides you with all the knowledge you need to plan and budget your home’s gutter cleaning. Keep reading to learn how much gutter cleaning costs and what factors affect the price.
What’s the Cost of Gutter Cleaning?
For most homeowners, gutter cleaning costs $0.80 per linear foot of gutter. For the average two-story home, the national average cost is $160, assuming you have 200 feet of gutters. Gutter cleaning for single-story homes costs around $0.40 per linear foot. However, gutter cleaning can cost as much as $2.20 per foot, depending on several factors.
Average gutter cleaning costs for a 1-story home:
| Affordability | Cost |
| Low-Cost | $0.40 per linear foot |
| Average Cost | $0.80 per linear foot |
| High-Cost | $2.20 per linear foot |
What’s the Cost of Gutter Cleaning by State?
As most homeowners realize, the cost of living and labor rates vary state by state and even regionally. Here is the price range you can expect to pay for average gutter cleaning in states from each region of the country:
| State | Gutter Cleaning Cost |
| California | $150 to $300 |
| Florida | $100 to $270 |
| Georgia | $110 to $260 |
| Massachusetts | $125 to $235 |
| Minnesota | $130 to $210 |
| Michigan | $100 to $220 |
| Minnesota | $125 to $210 |
| Idaho | $100 to $225 |
| Illinois | $100 to $200 |
| Indiana | $100 to $190 |
| New Jersey | $110 to $215 |
| New York | $130 to $290 |
| Texas | $140 to $280 |
Within each state, the total cost varies significantly. The significant factors affecting the price are the square footage of your home, access to gutters, and the region in your state. For example, gutter cleaning in Buffalo, NY, usually costs less than the same service in the Hamptons.
What Are Factors That Impact Gutter Cleaning Cost?
The price you pay for gutter cleaning can vary depending on several factors with the square footage of your house being the biggest key factor. Gutter cleaners will generally charge more to clean the gutters of a large home than they will to clean the gutters of a smaller home. The type of gutter you have can also affect the cost of gutter cleaning.
Here is everything you need to think about when calculating the cost of cleaning your gutters.
Roof Slope
The steeper your roof, the more difficult it is to clean your gutters. Gutter cleaners will typically charge more to clean the gutters of a home with a steep roof than they will for cleaning gutters of a home with a gentle slope.
Roof pitches of 2:12 or greater are considered steep. For comparison, most residential roofs have a pitch of 4:12, which is easy to walk on and keep your balance.
Gutter Condition
The condition of your gutters will also affect the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaning companies will typically charge more to clean gutters in poor condition than they will to clean gutters in good condition.
If you have never had your gutters cleaned, or if it has been more than a year since you cleaned them, then they might be in poor condition (depending on how much debris got in them). Gutter cleaners will also charge more to clean gutters clogged with leaves since it takes more time to clean than those that are only slightly dirty.
Gutter Type
Gutter cleaners will also charge more to clean certain types of gutters than others. For example, they will typically charge more to clean copper gutters than they will to clean vinyl gutters. Copper gutters need a special cleaner, so they don’t get damaged and take longer to clean.
In comparison, seamless gutters generally take less time to clean and cost less. Seamless gutters are gutters that have no seams or joints. They are made from one piece of extruded material (usually aluminum) and are custom-fit to your home.
Length of Gutters
The length of your gutters also affects the cost of gutter cleaning. As you can imagine, cleaning a longer gutter takes more time than a shorter one. Moving ladders the entire length of the gutters takes extra time, so the costs go up with added length.
Home Height
The height of your home will also affect the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners need to be very careful when working on tall houses. They often require special equipment, such as scaffolding or lifts, to reach the gutters.
Not only does this equipment cost money to rent, but it also takes extra time to set up and take down. As a result, gutter cleaners will typically charge more to clean up the gutters of a tall home than they will to clean the gutters of a shorter home.
For example, an old Victorian home with 3-stories and a full-height attic will have more expensive gutter cleaning than a modern home with a standard attic and lower roof line.
Accessibility to Roof and Gutters
If the roof and gutters are easy to access, then gutter cleaners will charge less to clean them. They will charge more if they have to use special equipment or take extra time to reach the gutters. If trees or other buildings block access to the gutters, this will increase the cost of cleaning them.
For example, if your home has a 2nd story with no balcony, the gutter cleaners need to use a ladder to reach the gutters. However, if your home has a 2nd story with a balcony, then they can simply walk out onto the balcony and clean the gutters. Since they won’t need a ladder, it will save time and money.
Downspout Cleaning
Most gutter cleaners will also clean the downspouts as part of their service. Downspouts are the pipes that carry water away from your gutters and down to the ground. They can get clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris, just like the gutters.
Generally, most gutter cleaners include downspouts in their cost. However, some gutter cleaners will charge an additional fee to clean the downspouts with lots of buildup.
Labor Costs
The cost of labor will also affect the price of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners typically charge by the hour or by the linear foot of gutter. If the labor rates are high, you should expect to pay more for a gutter system cleaning service. For example, labor rates are higher in California than in Iowa, so gutter cleaning is less expensive in the Midwest.
Location and Travel Time
The cost of gutter cleaning also depends on the location of your home and how far the gutter cleaners have to travel. Gutter cleaners will typically charge more to clean gutters located further away from their office.
This is because they have to spend more time traveling to and from your home, which uses up gas and time. If you live in a remote area, you should expect to pay more for professional gutter cleaning than if you live in a city.
Additionally, some gutter cleaners charge a travel fee to cover the costs of traveling to your home. This additional cost is usually a flat rate, regardless of how far they have to travel.
Time of Year
The time of year also affects the cost of gutter cleaning. Gutter cleaners are in high demand when leaves are falling from the trees during the fall.
They are also in high demand during the spring when melting snow and ice carry debris that can clog gutters. Gutter cleaners typically charge more during these times of high demand. If you need your gutters cleaned during high demand, you may need to pay more for the service.
What is the Cost of Gutter Cleaning by Home Size?
The cost to clean gutters on a 1-story house is usually less expensive than the cost to clean gutters on a 2-story house. This is because it almost always takes less time to clean the gutters on a 1-story home.
It also requires less equipment since the gutter cleaners can simply use a ladder to reach the gutters. Gutter cleaners typically charge by the hour, so a 1-story house will take less time to clean than a 2-story house.
However, this is not always the case. Gutter cleaners may charge more to clean gutters on a 1-story house if the gutters are located in a difficult-to-reach area. Alternatively, if you compare a 2,200-square-foot ranch to a 2-story home of the same size, the ranch may cost more for gutter cleaning. This is because the ranch has a 2,200 square-foot roof and more gutter length than the 2-story home with only a 1,100 square-foot roof. You can apply the same logic to a three-story home.
Here are the average gutter cleaning costs for 1-, 2-, and 3-story homes:
| Stories | Cost per cleaning |
| 1-story homes | $70-$150 |
| 2-story homes | $95-$250 |
| 3-story homes | $170-$425 |
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional to Clean Your Gutters
You can save money on rain gutter cleaning by doing it yourself. However, there are some risks associated with DIY gutter cleaning.
- You need a ladder or other equipment to reach the gutters.
- You’ll need to be comfortable working on a ladder. Looking up to your roof from the ground versus looking at the ground from your roof is an entirely different perspective and is rightly frightening to some. You could fall and injure yourself if you’re not comfortable working on a ladder.
- If you don’t clean the gutters properly, you could damage your gutters or your home.
Hiring a professional gutter cleaner is generally the best option for most homeowners. Gutter cleaners have the experience and equipment to clean your gutters quickly and safely. They also know how to properly dispose of the debris they remove from your gutters. And most importantly, during the gutter cleaning job, they will ensure your gutters drain properly – away from your foundation and landscaping – to prevent costly
What Happens to Gutters if They Aren’t Cleaned?
If you have a small amount of debris in your gutters, and your gutters are sloped so that water can still drain, then you may not experience any problems. However, if your gutters are full of debris, or if they’re not appropriately sloped, you could experience some serious issues.
One of the most common problems associated with dirty gutters is water damage to your home’s foundation. If your gutters are full of debris, the water will overflow, seep into your foundation, and cause cracks.
Over time, these cracks will get bigger and can lead to serious structural damage. It may even flood your basement and cause water damage. In addition to foundation and water damage, overflowing gutters can ruin your landscaping. The water can wash away topsoil, mulch, and plants. It can also create pools of standing water that attract mosquitoes and other pests.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Most experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. However, if you have trees near your home, you may need to clean them more often.
Some homes with many nearby trees need to clean their gutters as often as four times a year. Leaves can quickly clog gutters and downspouts. So cleaning them frequently is critical in preventing flooding.
Solutions to Gutter Cleaning
If you have a lot of trees near your home, you may want to invest in gutter guards. Gutter guards will keep the leaves and debris out of your gutters so that you don’t have to clean them as often. In many cases, they pay for themselves as they reduce the gutter cleaning frequency and expense.
Gutter Guards
There are a variety of gutter guards on the market. Some attach to the top of your gutters, while others fit inside your gutters. Gutter guards are made from plastic, metal, or foam. Some gutter guards allow water to flow through them while keeping leaves and debris out. Others keep all debris out but need to be cleaned periodically.
There are various brands and styles on the market, leaf filters, mesh guards, solid top guards, reverse curve guards, gutter screens, and more.
The type of gutter guard you choose will depend on your budget and needs. Gutter guards range in price from $3 to $30 per linear foot, with the average cost being $10 per linear foot. Installation costs for gutter guards vary depending on the type you choose- it’s best to get a cost estimate from a few local gutter companies before installing them.
Key Takeaways: Is Cleaning Your Gutters Worth it?
Cleaning your gutters is vital to preventing damage to your home. If your gutters get clogged, and the issue goes unaddressed for too long, you could experience serious water damage and ruin your home’s foundation. Foundation repair alone can cost you thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Paying to clean your gutters twice a year cost way less than that.
You can clean your gutters yourself, but hiring a professional gutter cleaner is generally the best option for most homeowners. Gutter cleaners have the experience and equipment to clean your gutters quickly and safely. They also know how to properly dispose of the debris they remove from your gutters and ensure they’re draining correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest method to clean gutters?
There is no single easy method to clean gutters. The most important factor is to ensure that the gutters are draining properly. You can do this using a garden hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts. Some gutter types are easiest to clean by hand or with a small garden shovel.
Other times, a hose sprayer is the easiest way to remove the debris. You can also use a plumbers snake or a drain auger to clear out clogged gutters.
Do you have to clean downspouts?
Yes, you should clean your downspouts as part of your gutter maintenance. Clogged downspouts can make your gutters overflow and cause water to back up and spill over the edge right next to your home. It’s best to clean both simultaneously to prevent any issues.
Can you clean gutters with a pressure washer?
No, you should not use a pressure washer (or power washer) to clean your gutters. You could damage the gutters, fasteners, extenders, and your shingles with the high-pressure stream of water. Instead, use a hose with a nozzle and a soft-bristle brush to wash out the gutters.
What is the best cleaner for gutters?
White vinegar is one of the best cleaners for gutters. It’s inexpensive and will remove most dirt, grime, and debris from your gutters. You can also use a bleach and water solution to clean your gutters, but be sure to rinse the gutters well afterward with clean water. If you use bleach, be careful not to spill it on your landscaping and wear goggles.
What is the best cleaner for gutters?
The best time to clean your gutters is in the fall after the leaves have fallen from the trees. For most areas in the U.S., this is around September and October. However, you may need to clean them more often if you live in an area with a lot of trees or if you have a lot of debris that collects in your gutters.
