A typical professional clean starts with a look at the gutters, then each run is cleared from the ground with a gutter vacuum, with extra attention at the outlets. Afterwards the gutters are checked with a camera so you can see they are clear. Many cleans take well under a day, but it depends on the house and how blocked the gutters are.
In this guide
What happens before the visit?
You give your postcode, the type of home and anything unusual: conservatories, extensions, flat roofs, gutters you know overflow, or nesting birds.
Most cleaners can price a straightforward house from its type and number of storeys. Things that change the job are worth saying up front: a conservatory or extension under a gutter, a gutter with no clear access below it, gutters on a detached garage, or a gutter you know overflows. If birds are nesting in the gutters or eaves, say so; the job may need to wait (see birds and bats).
What do I need to do on the day?
Very little. Leave side gates unlocked if you won’t be in, move cars away from the walls if you can, and bring in anything fragile from right below the gutters.
- Access. The cleaner needs to walk round the house and stand below each gutter.
- Parking. A space close to the house helps, because the vacuum and poles are heavy.
- Below the gutters. Move pots, bikes and garden furniture away from the walls.
- Pets. Keep them in while the vacuum is running.
- Power. Ask whether they need an outside socket or bring their own.
How is the gutter actually cleared?
The vacuum stays on the ground. The operator raises the poles until the nozzle sits in the gutter, then works along each run while watching the camera picture.
Debris goes up the nozzle, down the hose and into the vacuum’s drum. The operator usually starts at an outlet and works along, going back over anything stubborn. Moss mats and silt that plants have rooted into can take several passes. At internal corners and outlets, where blockages begin, they spend longer. See how gutter vacuums work for the kit itself.
What about the downpipes?
Ask. Some cleaners check that each downpipe drains, some clear them as part of the job, some price it separately, and some don’t do downpipes at all.
The vacuum clears the gutter and the outlet at the top of the downpipe. A blockage further down the pipe, at a bend or at the bottom, needs a different approach. Agree what is included before the visit, so you aren’t surprised. If the gutter overflows again after it has been cleared, the downpipe is the first thing to check (see blocked downpipes).
What happens afterwards?
You are shown the gutters on camera, told about anything worth knowing, and the debris is dealt with as agreed.
A good clean ends with a walk round. Each gutter on screen, clear end to end. Anything the camera picked up that isn’t part of the clean, like a dropped joint, a cracked section or slipped tiles near the edge, should be pointed out, not fixed without asking. Ask what happens to the debris: it might be taken away in the vacuum or bagged for your garden waste.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size of the house, how many gutters there are and how blocked they are. Ask your cleaner for an estimate when you book.
A small bungalow with lightly filled gutters is a much shorter job than a large detached house with silted gutters, extensions and a garage. Heavy blockages, plants rooted in the gutter and awkward access all add time. If you want to be home, ask for a rough arrival window rather than an exact time, because earlier jobs can run on.
What does a professional clean cost?
It depends mainly on the size and height of the house and how much gutter there is. Our guide to what affects the price goes through it.
In Essex, Full View Window Cleaning’s one-off gutter clearance prices start at £70–£75 for a flat or a 1–2 bedroom bungalow. The full price list is on our booking page.
What should I check once they’ve gone?
Watch the gutters in the next proper rain. Water should run to the outlets and leave the bottom of each downpipe, with nothing spilling over the front edge.
If a gutter still overflows after a clean, note where. Near a downpipe usually means the pipe is blocked lower down. Mid-run means the gutter may have a dip. Let the cleaner know with a photo or short video; a straightforward problem is often quick to sort out, and it tells them something about your gutters for next time.
Key points
- Tell the cleaner about conservatories, extensions and nesting birds when you book.
- Leave access round the house and move things away from the walls.
- Gutters are cleared from the ground into the vacuum drum.
- Ask whether downpipes are included.
- Expect to be shown the gutters on camera at the end.
Quick questions
Do I need to be in?
Not usually, if the cleaner can get round the house. Ask for photos if you can’t be there to see the camera.
Will it make a mess?
A vacuum clean keeps debris in the drum, so there is much less mess than scooping by hand. Some splashing on walls or windows below can happen with very wet silt.
Can it be done in the rain?
Often, yes, because it is done from the ground. Very heavy rain or high wind can make it harder to see on camera, so some visits are moved.
