Hiring a Gutter Cleaning Company vs. DIY

Gutter cleaning is not the most difficult job in the world. In fact, pretty much anyone can do it. All it requires is a ladder, a gutter scooper, and a willingness to get a little dirty.

That said, just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should. Yes, you can save money by doing it yourself, but there are also downsides, potential and real that come with rolling up your sleeves and clearing out your own gutters.

So, before you put on your overalls and pull out your ladder, first consider these 5 solid reasons why you should opt to hire a gutter cleaning company vs. going the DIY route.

1. You Can Get Injured

Cleaning your own gutters isn’t the most dangerous activity you could do, but it is quite risky. The biggest danger you’ll experience is getting up on your roof, or climbing up on your ladder.

If you’ve got great balance and you are in pretty great shape, then getting on a latter is not that big of a deal. However, if you don’t climb up on your roof or ladder often, or if you’re not the most agile person in the world, there is inherent danger that comes with conducting a cleaning activity that is high off the ground.

According to the CDC, there are more than 500,000 people treated every year from ladder injuries, and over 300 people actually die from ladder-related injuries. And just as alarming, is the estimated costs associated with ladder injuries, which sits at about $24 billion every year (with costs stemming from loss of employment, medical, legal, liability, and other expenses)._^[1]

2. You Can Get Skin Infections

Gutters contain all sorts of gnarly things. Most people think that leaves are all that they need to scoop out of their gutters, but this is far from accurate.

Leaves build up in your gutters, and after some time (especially if you’ve neglected to clean them in a while) they decompose, and with dirt, grime, shingle grains, and everything else that accumulates in there, it’s not rare to see soil in your gutters.

That said, running your hands through soil, bird feces, and bacteria-filled materials can very easily cause skin infections (like staph, etc…), especially if you happen to scrape your skin while finishing the job. _^[2] So, be sure to wear good gloves if you go the DIY route.

3. It’s Not Pleasant Work

Unless you like getting wet and swampy, and covered in mud, then cleaning your gutters is not fun. Without a doubt, gutter cleaning is a dirty job and isn’t pleasant.

Of course if you’re on a tight budget, and you absolutely have to do it, then it makes sense to do it yourself. But, if you can hire out the work, you should hire out a gutter cleaning company.

4. You Could Do It Wrong

Gutter cleaning isn’t rocket science to be sure; however, you could do some things wrong. First off, you may not clear out the entire gutter, leading to blockages backflow long before your next cleaning.

You may or may not accidently forget to clear out the downspouts, or you may not do it with right because you lack the right tools (i.e. a plumbers snake, drum auger, etc…) which could again lead to potential blockages and backflow issues that could eventually lead to expensive water damage.

In addition to this, you may not be cleaning your gutters out routinely enough, which can also lead to problems. Here’s how often you should clean your gutters out.

5. You Could Be Doing Something Fun

Last but not least on this list, is related to doing something more valuable with your time, like spending time with your family, getting out in nature, or enjoying life.

Chances are you already spend most hours of your week working to support your lifestyle or loved ones, and the last thing you probably want to do, is extra work on the weekend.

When you do DIY gutter cleaning, you are working. Sure, it’s not the same type of work as your day job, but it is laborious and the opposite of leisure. So, unless you like cleaning gutters and downspouts, leave the hard work to the pros.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, 5 solid reasons why you should skip that gutter cleaning to-do that you’ve been putting off, and hire someone else to get the job done.

Having said all of that, if you live in the San Antonio area and if you’re ever in need of a professional gutter cleaning company, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free quote.

Related: Gutter Prices Near Me

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