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Gutter Maintenance:Cleaning your gutters should be an easy job, but not all homes are created equal and some have high gutters or ones surrounded by tree limbs which makes getting to them nearly impossible. You should clean your gutters twice a year - once in the spring after the winter rains and once again in the late fall before the heaviest of rains begins to come down. Some climates are harsher than others so if you live in Las Vegas odds are you don't have to deal with gutters very often since so little rain falls each year. Those living in rainy states like Oregon or Washington will need to inspect their gutters multiple times a year to make sure there is no debris blocking the downspouts or drains. The main purpose of your gutter system is to get the rainwater off the roof area and away from the house and foundation in the easiest manner possible. The majority of rain gutters perform just fine when completely cleaned out, so be sure to get up on a ladder a few times a year and check your gutters.
Cleaning your Gutters:I grew up with a father who cleaned our gutters out every year but he had it easy since we lived in a one story home with low rain gutters. If you happen to live in a 1 story house, then there is no reason you can't clean your own gutters without having to hire a professional. You really only need a small a-frame ladder that gets you up about 10 feet so you can see into the gutters and check for troubled spots. Clogs always develop near the downspouts and drains, so check those areas first. Once you get your head above the gutter level, you should be able to diagnose the situation. Also, you should have a garden hose handy so you can spray out the gutters and then get whatever debris is still in there with your hands. I've watched the guy who cleans my gutters out and he uses basic equipment to do the job. It's not like you need anything special to clean your gutters. If possible, take a small bucket up the ladder so you can throw larger debris into that and take it back down later. I find things like pine cones, pine needles, leaves, and twigs. Spraying your gutters after you get rid of the debris will let you personally see if the drainage system is working properly. If the water flows out like it should, you are done, but if it remains clogged then your problem is probably a drainpipe or downspout. Those are harder to clean unless you have a good hose system which you can turn on high power and really clean out the downspouts. I have seen some people use pressure washer nozzles to reach deep into the downspout and essential "blow" out the clogged debris much like you would with a toilet that is clogged with plumbers snake. I usually put leaf and debris filters (screens) in my gutters after they are clean so that they remain clog free for as long as possible. It shouldn't take that long to clean your rain gutters, perhaps 2 hours at most if you have the right equipment and can get access to all your gutters without too much hassle.
Gutter Repairs:Most gutter experts say the best way to determine if your gutters are performing well is to watch them while a rain storm is actually occuring. Go outside during the heavy rainfall and watch to see that no water is overflowing out the sides of the rain gutters. You should be able to immediately see trouble spots if water is coming over the top of the gutter and splashing down on the ground below. This can lead to serious erosion of foundations and house siding if not dealt with. I live in Portland, Oregon and we get some incredible rainfall totals during our biggest winter storms. I've had multiple issues with my rain gutters over the years and thought about replacing them many times. My biggest issue is that my gutters are designed with a flaw and continually get clogged because of it. Most gutters go across the roof line and then the downspouts go straight down from the gutter itself and then gradually go back towards the side of the house. My gutters are screwed up in that the downspouts go away from the gutters back towards the side of the house immediately (not down like all other types). Therefore, I get more leaves and debris caught in the downspout and neck piece that leads from the main gutter. It's very difficult to get a hose into that elbow piece since it's completely opposite from a normal setup. I had a contractor take a look at the design and he couldn't believe that someone did it like that and said my solution is to replace the painted steel gutters in the problem spots which requires some welding, patching the old hole in the gutters and creating a new downspout hole. The cost is almost not worth it compared to buying new gutters. For now, I clean my gutters multiple times during the winter and make sure that after the summer and fall they are ready for the harsh winter months. Gutter repairs like leaks or sagging gutters are generally only a few $100 which is reasonable. They have gutter caulk which any homeowner can put on gutter joints to seal them up and prevent leaking water. You can even replace a section of downspout if it gets damaged. I've had a few neighbors who had tree limbs cut down and the limbs fell into their gutters causing some damage. Stores like Home Depot and Lowes sell all sorts of rain gutter replacement parts and fixtures if you need them.
DIY Gutter Projects vs Hiring a Handyman:The majority of rain gutter issues can be done by the homeowner. Even if you have to get up on a tall ladder, it shouldn't take that long to clean or repair a basic gutter problem. Debris can be cleaned out of most gutters within a few minutes. Having been up on a 24 foot ladder, I can say it's not for those afraid of heights. I also suggest having someone hold the ladder for better stability when you are at those kinds of heights. DIY gutter work is pretty basic and doesn't require a lot of technical know-how. That being said, you can hire a college age kid to clean out your gutters for pretty cheap. My house is about 3300 square feet with plenty of gutters at 15 feet to 22 feet in height and the job to clean them all cost me about $120. I try to get a professional to do it every year or so and then I followup with my own cleaning as well during the off months. If you have lower gutters, give it a try at least once to see how easy it can be to clean them out. Have your hose ready to blast out what you can and then use your hand to clean the rest. Again, the best preventive measure you can take it to install debris screens near the downspouts (cost is about $2/each and easy to do) and cut down all branches and vegetation that is growing near the gutters to keep leaves and debris to a minimum.
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