How Much Does It Cost to Have Your Gutters Cleaned?

Cleaning your gutters certainly isn't glamorous, but it's necessary to prevent water from accumulating around your home and causing dampness. While it's easy to forget to add gutter maintenance to your to-do list, this is one essential task you won't want to miss.

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Many homeowners choose to hire a gutter cleaning company for safety and convenience. Let's explore how much it costs to clean gutters and when you should schedule visits for maximum effectiveness.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean Gutters?

According to HomeGuide, professional gutter cleaning costs $175 (CAD 246) on average, with most homeowners spending between $100 and $250 (CAD 140 and CAD 351). The average cost to clean your gutters is usually lower if you have a smaller-than-average home, with prices starting from roughly $70 (CAD 98) for a compact, single-story house. Costs can be as high as $400 (CAD 562) for larger, multistory properties.

How Much Is Professional Gutter Cleaning Per Linear Foot?

You can estimate the likely cost of gutter cleaning services far more accurately if you know the linear footage of your gutters. Professionals typically charge between $0.50 and $1.50 (CAD 0.70 and CAD 2.11) per linear foot for single-story homes. Gutter cleaning is usually cheaper for these properties because contractors can often access the gutters from the ground, making the job much safer and quicker.

Gutter cleaning rates for two-story homes are slightly higher, at $0.75 to $2 (CAD 1.05 to CAD 2.81) per linear foot. That's because professionals require specialized equipment to clean gutters safely at greater heights. Rates for homes with three stories or more are higher still at $1.25 to $2.50 (CAD 1.75 to CAD 3.51) per linear foot, reflecting the increased risk and complexity.

What Factors Impact Gutter Cleaning Rates?

The square footage of your home impacts the cost of gutter cleaning services simply because larger homes usually have more guttering to clear. Cleaning the gutters on a typical family home measuring 2,000 to 2,500 square feet costs around $100 to $250 (CAD 140 to CAD 351).

Costs increase by roughly $25 to $50 (CAD 35 to CAD 70) for every additional 500 square feet. For instance, prices rise to between $125 and $300 (CAD 175 and CAD 421) for a 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot house.

However, your home's size and height aren't the only factors impacting gutter cleaning rates. Below, we'll outline some other factors to consider.

Downspout Cleaning

Downspouts are vertical pipes that attach to your gutters, carrying water to a drain to prevent it from accumulating around your home's foundation and causing moisture issues. Over time, they can become clogged with leaves and other debris, preventing them from redirecting water effectively.

If you have blocked downspouts, your gutter cleaning company will likely recommend cleaning your gutters and downspouts during the same visit. You should expect to pay $160 to $400 (CAD 225 to CAD 562) for both services.

Gutter Guard Installation or Removal

Gutter guards reduce the amount of debris accumulating in your gutters, which can help prevent blockages and breakages and may reduce the required cleaning frequency. Professional gutter guard installation usually costs $3,000 to $9,000 (CAD 4,212 to CAD 12,635) for a whole house or $15 to $45 (CAD 21 to CAD 63) per linear foot.

While gutter guards can significantly reduce the likelihood and expense of gutter repairs and blockages over time, they do make gutter cleaning slightly more expensive. Your gutter cleaning company must remove the guards before clearing debris, making the process more time-consuming. On average, removing and replacing gutter guards during maintenance visits increases costs by around $30 to $80 (CAD 42 to CAD 112).

Gutter Repair or Replacement

During gutter maintenance visits, a professional may discover damaged or broken sections of guttering. In this situation, they'll usually recommend repairing or replacing the damaged section to keep your gutters functioning effectively. If the damage is minor, you should expect to pay around $100 to $450 (CAD 140 to CAD 632) for professional gutter repairs.

You'll usually need to replace the affected section if the damage is more severe. Gutter replacement prices start from around $8 to $12 (CAD 11 to CAD 17) per linear foot for vinyl or PVC gutters and can reach $35 to $45 (CAD 49 to CAD 63) per linear foot for expensive materials like zinc.

Roof Cleaning

Some homeowners opt to have their roofs cleaned during their gutter maintenance appointment. Roof cleaning usually costs $0.15 to $0.60 (CAD 0.21 to CAD 0.84) per square foot. However, opting to have your roof and gutters cleared during the same visit is often cheaper because many companies offer discounted rates when you book more than one service.

More Related Articles:

• What Are Gutter Guards — and Do You Need Them?

• How Much Does It Cost to Install Gutter Guards?

• Does a House Need Gutters?

• Winter Gutter Maintenance Checklist

• Frozen Gutters Be Dammed! 6 Ways to Eliminate Ice Dams

How Often Do You Need Rain Gutter Cleaning Services?

As a rule of thumb, you should aim to have your gutters cleaned once every six months. However, this advice won't be appropriate for every home. Your gutter cleaning company may recommend increasing the frequency of gutter maintenance if:

• Your home is surrounded by large numbers of trees that increase the amount of leaf debris in your gutters.

• Your local area experiences frequent heavy rainfall or storms that could overwhelm or damage your guttering.

• You live in an area at risk of wildfires, as the leaves in your gutters could ignite during dry weather.

• Your yard contains pine trees, as pine needles tend to accumulate more quickly than other types of debris.

You should schedule gutter maintenance whenever you notice signs that your gutters aren't working correctly, even if your last gutter cleaning visit was relatively recent. Signs to look out for include visible debris buildup, water overflowing from your gutters or visible dampness around your exterior walls or foundation.

When Should You Clean Your Gutters?

Most professionals advise scheduling your biannual gutter cleaning visits in fall and spring. Cleaning your gutters in fall helps prepare them for heavier rainfall during winter, while cleaning in spring removes debris accumulated during the winter months. However, it's worth asking your gutter cleaning company for advice, as your local climate may require a different schedule.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.