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Angie's List Tips For Cleaning Gutters & Downspouts

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It's a fall chore no one likes to do, but if you don't clean your gutters regularly, you could be asking for trouble.

However, Angie's List has some advice for why you shouldn't ignore your gutters or downspouts.

Jeremy Mitchell's home and landscape suffered water damage as a result of overflowing gutters.

"It's a pretty wooded lot so basically, we have a lot of leaves. Stuff falls off the trees, limbs that fall off. So, that over time has damaged the gutters to the point where they actually started to sag," Mitchell said.

If you can't or don't want to clean your gutters, call on a professional to do the work.

They should remove all leaves and other debris from your roof, gutters and downspouts.

They should also check the overall condition of your gutters and make any necessary repairs.

"The cost to clean your gutters can range anywhere from about $75 to around $200 depending on the size of your house and the number of stories you have in your home," Angie Hicks from Angie's List said.

How often should you have them cleaned?

"It depends on the amount of trees around the house. Some people we have to clean their gutters several times a year, other people are just once in the late fall after all the leaves are down. Some people are spring and fall. Two times a year is almost the average," contractor Paul Hoolahan said.

While leaf guards, covers and screens can help reduce debris collecting in your gutter, you should still check them regularly.

Experts say up to 20 percent of leaves and other material can get through a gutter cover.

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