Gutter cleaning is a complicated but necessary job. You need to know. -Washington Post

Cleaning the gutters in your home is a complicated job, but someone has to do it. Clogged and leaf-clogged gutters can cause major problems, including wet basements, crumbling sidewalls or trim, and water-damaged interior walls.

If you choose to do the dirt removal yourself, there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind.

• How often you have to deal with clutter depends on how many trees you have near your home. If your roof gets a lot of shade from leaves, you may need to clean it in the fall and spring. However, if your home has few nearby trees above the roof, you may only need to inspect and clean once every two years. However, if you are surrounded by tall, drooping deciduous trees, you may need to clean in the fall and then again in mid to late spring.
• Installing grating or gutter guards reduces the need to inspect and clean. But these systems don't catch everything, and they can also become clogged, requiring maintenance at least every few years.
• The usual way to clean gutters is to climb a ladder and, wearing thick work gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges and nails, remove as much dirt as possible. If your gutters are covered with grating or other guards, clear any debris that has built up, then gently lift the guards to clear debris from the gutters.

What questions do you have about home maintenance?

• Once the gutters are clean, run water through them with a garden hose and check that the liquid flows smoothly with no kinks or clogs. Next, check for leaks and verify that all downspouts are draining properly and that water is spilling several feet from the base of the home's exterior walls. If you find a leak at a joint, seal it with gutter sealant. There are several ways to patch other holes. One option is to remove the gutter section and create a patch on the inside with a material that matches the gutter (such as an aluminum patch for an aluminum gutter). Glue the patch with epoxy and then cover it with roofing putty. ​​Be careful not to create debris that will block the flow of water.
• If nails or screws holding the gutters in place are loose, replace them with longer galvanized metal screws. You may be able to bend warped hangers back to their original shape. If not, replace them.
• If your roof is not flat, do all work from a ladder rather than on the roof and lean forward. Carefully lift your ladder and position it correctly. Lay the bottom end against the house; Head towards the house from the top, raise the ladder above your head until you reach the house and the ladder is straight. Then move the bottom of the house about ¼ the length of the ladder. The top of the ladder must protrude at least one meter over the edge of the roof. Climb the ladder by standing in the middle of each rung and using both hands at your sides. If you can't easily reach the sides to pick up debris from your position on the ladder, go back down and move them instead of risking a fall by overextending.
• Avoid power lines while you work. You may not be properly insulated; Touching one, especially if you're standing on or standing on a metal ladder, can end your gutter cleaning responsibility.

It can be worth hiring a professional to do the job, as gutter cleaning is messy, physically demanding, and potentially dangerous. To choose a store, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Checkbook also has unbiased reviews of local gutter cleaning services available free of charge to Washington Post readers through November 25 at Checkbook.org/WashingtonPost/gutter-cleaners .

Given that gutter cleaning is relatively easy, we're surprised by the number of complaints we're receiving from Checkera subscribers. Common complaints include poor workmanship, clutter, property damage, missed appointments, and lack of communication.

Ask any company you're considering to give you an estimate over the phone, or better yet, tour your home and prepare a written offer. Most companies are willing to do this, and you usually don't need to be home. Getting multiple quotes will likely save you money. When Checkbook's undercover price buyers called a sample of companies to get their gutter cleaning prices for a two-story, 2,500-square-foot home with a pitched roof and gutters with 80-foot shelves, the prices fell in between less than $75 and over $190.

Since gutter cleaning can be dangerous, ask any company you're considering to provide proof that they have liability and workers' compensation insurance.

If you haven't already installed gutter guards, the companies you speak to may offer to install them. Less expensive options include metal or vinyl screens, which allow water to pass through and trap leaves and other debris that will eventually fall or be blown away. These screens typically cost between $5 and $8 per linear foot installed.

The most expensive options are covers, usually aluminum or vinyl, designed to allow rainwater to drain down gutters while debris is collected or washed away. They typically cost between $8 and $12 per linear foot installed.

Even if tall trees surround your home, gutter guards or gutter guards aren't necessarily a good investment. They probably won't prevent shingleberries, nuts, clams, and granules from getting into your gutters, and they won't do much to prevent pine needles from clogging. When we asked dozens of gutter installers and roofers if they installed screens or covers for customers, more than a third told us they never did because they felt it was inefficient and a waste of money. Even if you invest in gutter guards, you still need to inspect your gutters at least every two years, and when leaves and debris need to be removed, it becomes more difficult when your gutters have gutter guards.

Kevin Brasler is the Editor of Washington Consumers' Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org , a consumer-supported nonprofit that takes no money from the service providers it reviews. You can access Checkbook reviews of local gutter cleaning services for free through November 25 at Checkbook.org/WashingtonPost/gutter-cleaners .

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