Gutter Cleaning Guides for Homeowners

When gutters clog, rainwater spills over the edge and lands right next to your house instead of draining through the downspouts. That water soaks the soil along your foundation and can seep into basements and crawl spaces. Keeping gutters and downspouts clear is one of the cheapest ways to prevent water damage.

Late fall is the most important cleaning, after most leaves are down but before the first hard freeze, usually November in the Algonquin and Crystal Lake area. A second cleaning in late spring clears out seed pods, helicopters and debris from winter storms before the summer rains.

They can make them worse. Wet leaves left in the gutter freeze solid, so melting snow has nowhere to drain and backs up along the roof edge. Clearing your gutters before winter gives meltwater a path to the downspouts and helps protect your roof edge and fascia.

If you have a single-story home, a sturdy ladder and a helper, cleaning gutters yourself is doable. On two- and three-story homes, ladder work gets risky fast, and it's easy to miss clogs inside the downspouts. Our insured crew hand-cleans every gutter and flush-tests every downspout, starting at $100.

Walk around your house during a heavy rain and look for water pouring over the gutter edge, which means a clog. Keep downspout extensions in place so water lands at least a few feet from your foundation, and trim branches that hang over the roof. If you spot overflow, give us a call at (847) 732-0832.