Cleaning gutters is a key home maintenance task that nearly every home will need from time to time. If you have a lot of large, old trees, it may be an annual or even semi annual project, and for others it make be a once every few years project.
A gutter cleaning service will take care of all the details, including removing and bagging the bulk debris, spraying out the soupy sludge that couldn’t be bagged, and checking and clearing downspouts. Most will take before and after photos as well so you don’t have to worry about climbing a ladder the check on their work.
Below are the top 7 services we’ve found in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area helping homeowners with this process. Some are specialists, while others offer a variety of services if you’d like to get a few tasks done while they’re around
- Cincinnati Gutter Cleaners – This Cincinnati-based service is licensed and insured. They also offer pressure washing, painting, and gutter repair services.
- Hillside Services – Another Cincinnati company, Hillside Services covers the entire area including Northern KY and Southeast Indiana. Addition services include pressure washing, painting, and Christmas lights installation.
- Cincy Gutter Boys – One of the biggest services in the region, this Covington, KY based company has been in operation sine 2016
- Anderson Gutter Company – Based in Anderson Township, this company does all things gutters, including repair and installation.
- A&A Lawns – This Northern KY landscaping juggernaut also cleans gutters.
- Liberty Power Wash – Another Northern Kentuck service, based in Walton, Liberty can also remove “tiger strips,” the dark striping that often occurs on the exterior of gutters that requires a special cleaning solution to remove.
- Gutters Etcetera – Gutters Etcetera takes care of all gutter and “edge of roof needs,” including repair or replacement of soffits and fascia.
Signs You Need Your Gutters Cleaned
Most people don’t want to or don’t have the ability to get on their roofs to tell if the gutters are full of gunk, but there are a few telltale signs you can see from the ground that you need to get your gutters taken care of.
- Seedlings and plants are growing in your gutters. This is one of the most obvious signs your gutters are way overdue for a cleaning. Seedlings can significantly increase the weight and stress on your gutters, as well as cause root damage between seams and joints. If you see seedlings growing in your gutters, take action promptly.
2. Gutters are sagging. If your gutters are sagging, that’s a sign your gutters need attention soon. Chances are the weight of the debris has accumulated to the point its stressing the anchoring to your roof. Sagging gutters can also be caused by a few other possibilities, including wind or storm damage, or deteriorating or rotting fastening to the roof. In this case repair or in extreme cases replacement services may be needed. Regardless of the cause, sagging gutters need attention to ensure further damage doesn’t occur, and existing problems are fixed.
3. Animals nesting in your gutters. A good sign your gutters aren’t carrying away water like they should is a bird nesting in them. Other animals can build nests but are more difficult to see from the ground, but you may hear them moving about in certain cases. Seeing a bird fly to its nest in the Spring is a good sign you should schedule a cleaning given the heavy rains the Cincinnati and Northern KY area sees this time of year.
4. Water overflowing your gutters. If you see water overflowing your gutters, that’s a good sign there’s an issue. The most common problem is debris, but this may also be a sign of damaged or decayed fascia boards or other issues.
5. Water ponding near the house. If you see ponding or puddles of water near the house and away from a downspout, this may be caused by plugged up gutters, particularly after a hard rain. This is directly related to water overflowing the gutters, but in a heavy storm you’re probably not going to be outside inspecting gutters.
6. Staining or streaking on siding of building. Streaks are another sign that water is building up and overflowing. The debris in your gutters will naturally dye the water which will leave streaks on the siding.
7. You don’t remember the last time you cleaned your gutters. If you haven’t had a gutter cleaning in recent memory and you don’t have a top notch gutter guard system in place, it’s probably time you got your gutters cleaned. Most of the above signs are serious indicators a cleaning is needing, and further indicate damage has already occurred that needs repaired. Preventative maintenance is an important part of home ownership and can pay for itself several times over compared to deferred maintenance and the compounding damage that can occur.
Cleaning and maintaining your gutters are a key part of home maintenance. Anyone involved in the construction and maintenance of buildings will tell you the number one cause of damage to homes is from water, whether from plumbing, weather, or groundwater. Gutters help get water off your roof and guided away from the foundation, without which you could be facing five figure repairs to fix. Occasionally spending a couple hundred dollars to get your gutters cleaned out is basically an insurance policy against some of the most expensive repairs a homeowner can face.