When Should You Schedule Gutter Cleaning

Gutter Cleaning at GLG&G: What You
Should Know

Frequency: How Often Should I Be Getting My Gutters Cleaned?

Gutter cleaning is the process of removing debris (such as dirt, leaves, twigs, and other
buildup) from your home’s gutter system. Doing so will ensure that water is able to flow and
drain properly away from your home. While keeping your gutters clean may seem like a minor maintenance task that can easily be put off or ignored, it actually plays a significant role in protecting the integrity of your home. As gutters become clogged, water can overflow or back up — potentially leading to costly issues such as water damage, foundation problems, roof and fascia damage, pest activity, and even basement flooding. In addition to helping prevent these problems, regular gutter maintenance can also extend the lifespan of your gutters, helping you to avoid another possible costly repair down the road.
At GLG&G, we would advise cleaning your gutters ideally twice a year — once in the fall time and once during the spring season.

However, at a minimum, we recommend that your gutters get cleaned at least once a year. Fall cleanings will be the most important time to have your gutters cleaned, as falling leaves and debris can quickly build up and block proper water flow heading into the winter months. Spring cleanings are beneficial for clearing out any remaining debris between seasons and ensuring that your gutters are prepared and able to handle heavier spring rainfall — but they should not replace a fall cleaning.
If you’re asking, “How do I know if my home needs more frequent gutter cleanings?”
Factors such as heavier tree coverage around your home or living in an area that sees more
regular storm weather may cause debris to accumulate more rapidly. In these cases, scheduling additional cleanings can help you keep your gutter system maintained and functioning properly all year-round.

Ice Dams: The Importance of Keeping Your Gutters Clean During Winter Months

Have you ever wondered, “Why do I need to worry about my gutters during the winter?”
The answer to this is ice dams. These are ridges of ice that form along the edges of your roof
during the colder winter months. They normally occur when the snow resting on your roof
begins to melt — either from the sun or from heat escaping your home — and then refreezes
near the roof’s edge, preventing proper drainage throughout your gutters. When these ice dams
form, melting snow has nowhere to go, leading to water backing up underneath your shingles
and roofing. Over time, this trapped water can seep into many areas it shouldn’t — potentially
causing damage to your roof, insulation, walls, ceilings, and interior finishes.
These ice dams can be especially problematic since they’ll often go unnoticed by
homeowners until it’s too late and the damage has already been done. As water continues to
back up behind the ice, it can lead to certain issues such as roof leaks, mold growth, damaged insulation, stained ceilings, and damage to your gutters. In even more severe cases, the weight
of heavy ice dam buildup could rip your gutters down or pull them further away from your
home. Keeping your gutters clean before winter weather hits will help ensure that melting snow
and ice drain properly. This ultimately reduces your risk of ice dams forming and the costly
repairs that can result from it.

Our Process: How We Clean Your Gutters
If you live in the West Michigan or Northwest Indiana area and are searching for a
reliable, thorough, and affordable gutter cleaning service, we want you to feel confident in knowing exactly what to expect when entrusting GLG&G.

Here’s our gutter cleaning process:
1. We ladder all gutters on your home (unless the roof is walkable)
2. All gutters are then cleaned by hand
3. We rinse out all of the remaining debris, including shingle debris
4. We ensure that all your downspouts are running and operating properly