Gutter Cleaning in Saratoga Springs, NY

The visible part of gutter cleaning is scooping leaves and debris out of the trough, and that is the part most people picture. The part that actually prevents damage is what happens after. Every downspout gets flushed with water to confirm it drains clear all the way to the bottom, since a clog three feet down the pipe looks fine from the top but backs up the whole system the next time it rains.

While the gutter is clear, it gets checked for pitch. Gutters are supposed to slope slightly toward the downspout, and hangers that have loosened over time let sections sag and pool water instead of draining, which is where you get standing water, sediment buildup, and eventually rust or seam failure. Fascia boards behind the gutter get a visual check too, since water that has been overflowing quietly for a season or two shows up there before it shows up anywhere else.

With the amount of maple and oak coverage in this region, gutters here fill fast in October and November, and then freeze solid before a second cleaning ever happens. A clogged gutter going into winter is what sets up ice dams, and ice dams are what push water back up under the roof edge.