On average, it takes between 2 to 3 hours to clean gutters DIY for an average home size of 1,800 sq. ft. However, hiring professional gutter cleaning services, can reduce this time to 30min to 1 hour for average size homes, and up to 2-3 hours, for houses over 5,000 sq. ft.
Cleaning Time Considerations
Considering a thorough hand-removal of debris, the time it takes to clean gutters varies based on several factors such as:
Size of the Gutters
The longer the linear foot of the gutters, the more time it will take to clean the gutters. A single-story home will take less time to clean than a two-story home, for example.
Roof Type
Some types of roofs will allow workers to walk on them to clean gutters faster, avoiding the usage of the ladder around the entire property. More inclined or pitched roofs, on the other hand, will make it harder and more dangerous to use that kind of method.
Build-up of Debris
When was the last time the gutters were cleaned? The more debris that has accumulated in the gutters, the longer it will take to clean them. If the gutters have not been cleaned in a while, it will take longer to remove all the debris.
Tools and Safety Equipment
If you have the right tools and safety equipment, you can clean the gutters more efficiently, and it will take less time. The right equipment includes ladders (equipped with stabilizers), buckets, and gloves.
Difficult locations
Difficult locations are very common problems gutter cleaners find that can delay significantly a gutter cleaning. Especially in places with clogged gutters, which it has to be worked manually.
A gutter cleaning professional can also face problems on the ground, with unleveled surfaces, making it very difficult to position heavy ladders and to keep them stable, which will take a lot more time until it is safe to climb up.
Gutter Guards
The process can take 2x or even 3x longer when there are gutter guards installed in the gutter system.
Every gutter cleaning professional will need to detach and reattach or reinstall all of the gutter protection necessary to conclude the process, and that will also add 2x to 3x more time.
How do professionals clean gutters?
Gutter cleaning, when done by professionals, includes removing debris from the gutter system and cleaning downspouts, often ignored by amateurs due to the difficulty to do them. This can include leaves, sticks, and other debris that has built up over time.
A true professional will also inspect and test gutters to make sure they are in good condition. It will also help to protect your home, by diagnosing problems early.
Professional companies will also bring a hose, in order to always flush downspouts or just to perform basic tests, that can help to identify leaks.
Small repairs are usually included as part of the service. If not, they shouldn’t be overlooked anyway, since they are critical to prevent water to accumulate in certain areas.
Fast vs Slow Cleanings
Cleaning gutters correctly doesn’t necessarily mean taking longer. It is important to understand that being too fast, or too long is not what is going to guarantee to a homeowner, his/her gutters will work effectively after.
The gutter cleaning process involves inspecting the gutters, removing any debris or blockages, and cleaning the gutters with a pressure washer or other tools.
Downspouts also need to be cleaned to ensure that rainwater flows properly through the drainage system.
Professional Practices to Speed up The Process
There are some professional gutter practices that can be used in a house to have gutters cleaned correctly while speeding up the process.
The use of proper equipment to clean your gutters, such as a blower, and pressure washer (with lower pressure), can help to remove stuck debris and blow away dry leaves and sticks.
A warning! Using them incorrectly can end up damaging certain areas of your roof, gutters, the exterior of your home, vehicles around you, and other kinds of problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, rain gutters need to be clean and functional at the end of every cleaning. No matter how long it takes, the correct time required to go through the entire gutter system should be used.
It’s important to keep gutters clean to prevent water damage to the property and to ensure that rainwater flows properly through the gutter system. Hiring a professional gutter cleaning service can significantly reduce the time required, and the risks for the job and ensure that the gutters are properly cleaned and maintained.
