Downspout cleaning
If water still backs up after the trough is clear, the blockage is usually at an elbow or outlet. We clear it and flush any buried drain line.
Downspout cleaning detailsGutter Cleaning in Florida
Gutter cleaning is the removal of leaves, palm fiber, pollen, and grit from your gutters so rain can reach the downspouts. Fast Pro clears every run by hand, flushes every downspout, and sends you photos of the work. We clean gutters for homeowners across Florida and quote by phone.
Serving homeowners across Florida. 6+ years on Florida homes. 2,500+ jobs completed. Last updated .
Every gutter cleaning includes
Free inspection- Every run cleared by hand
- Downspouts flushed
- Roof edge debris removed
- Hangers and seams checked
- Before and after photos
- Debris bagged and hauled
What we clear out of Florida gutters
A gutter in Ohio clogs with leaves once a year. A Florida gutter gets something new almost every month, and each kind of debris causes its own problem. This is what we pull out most often.
| Debris | What it does in the gutter | How we remove it |
|---|---|---|
| Palm fronds and fiber | Fibers knot into a mat that dams the trough and traps everything behind it. | Pulled out by hand in long strips, then the trough is scooped clean. |
| Live oak leaves and catkins | Catkins mat into a brown felt that stays wet for weeks. | Scooped by hand and bagged on the spot. |
| Pine needles | Thin enough to slide into the downspout, where they bunch up at the first elbow. | Cleared from the trough, then flushed through the downspout. |
| Wet pollen | Turns to a paste that coats the floor of the trough and slows the water. | Scooped, then rinsed off the trough floor. |
| Seed pods | Roll to the outlet and plug it. | Picked out before we flush. |
| Shingle grit | Granules from aging asphalt shingles settle and harden into a crust. | Loosened with a scoop and bagged. |
| Storm debris | Branches, shredded leaves, and Spanish moss can fill a clean gutter overnight. | Cleared by hand, then every downspout is flushed again. |
Gutter debris removal is only half the job. If a downspout stays blocked, the water backs up and the gutter overflows again at the next storm, so we flush every downspout before we leave. The downspout cleaning page explains how.
How we clean your gutters, step by step
The same seven steps on every house. You do not need to be home for any of them.
- 1
We walk the property
Before a ladder goes up, we look at the trees overhead, the roof edge, the gutter material, and where each downspout ends. That tells us how packed the runs will be and where water will back up first.
- 2
We set the ladder
Ladders go on firm, level ground at the 4-to-1 angle that NIOSH recommends: one foot out from the wall for every four feet of height. Two-story homes get a stabilizer, and sloped ground gets leveling feet.
- 3
We clear by hand
Large debris comes out first. Then we scoop the compacted layer underneath, which is where palm fiber and pollen paste collect. Everything goes into a bag, not onto your lawn or into your flower beds.
- 4
We clear the roof edge
Leaves and fronds piled along the lower edge of the roof and in the valleys come off too. Left there, they slide back into the trough on the next rain.
- 5
We flush with water
Water runs through each run toward the downspouts. We watch for slow spots, standing water, and drips at the seams, and we keep flushing each downspout until the flow is steady.
- 6
We inspect and photograph
We check hangers, end caps, seams, and the fascia behind the gutter, and take before and after photos. If a hanger is loose or a section sags, you get the photo and a plain note about it.
- 7
We clean up
The bagged debris leaves with us. We sweep the walkway and the beds under the work area before we go.
Debris comes out by hand, so nothing gets pushed into the downspout.
Before and after: one gutter, cleaned by hand
Every job ends with a photo pair like this one, taken from the same spot.
How often should you clean gutters in Florida?
At least twice a year: late spring, before hurricane season starts on June 1, and late fall, after it ends on November 30. Gutters under live oaks, pines, or palms usually need three or four visits. Add a check after any named storm.
The hurricane season dates come from NOAA's National Hurricane Center.
| When | What is falling | Why this visit |
|---|---|---|
| Late February to March | Oak catkins and spring pollen | Clears the felt-like mat before the first summer storms. |
| Late May to early June | Spring leftovers and early debris | Gets water moving before hurricane season begins. |
| October to November | Summer storm debris and seed pods | Clears it before it hardens and rots in the trough. |
| After any named storm | Branches, shredded leaves, moss | One night of wind can fill a gutter that was clean. |
Gutter guards cut the schedule to once or twice a year, but they do not remove the need. Our gutter guard cleaning service covers the screens and the trough underneath.
Signs your gutters need cleaning
You can spot most of these from the driveway during or after a rain.
- Water spills over the front edge of the gutter instead of leaving through the downspout
- Dark vertical streaks on the outside face of the gutter
- Grass or small seedlings growing along the trough
- A section that sags in the middle or pulls away from the fascia
- Mulch washed out or a trench dug in the soil under the roof edge
- Peeling paint or brown stains on the fascia and soffit
- Standing water in the trough days after the rain stops
What happens if you wait
Clogged gutters rarely fail all at once. The damage adds up one storm at a time.
- Overflow runs down the fascia board, and the wood rots where it stays wet
- Soil beside the slab washes out, and water pools near the foundation
- Water backs up under the first row of shingles
- Standing water breeds mosquitoes within about a week
- Wet debris adds weight, and hangers pull out of the fascia
- Seedlings root in the muck and push the seams apart
Can you clean your own gutters?
Yes, if the house has one story, the ground is level, and your ladder is rated for your weight plus tools. The ladder is the dangerous part. Set it at the 4-to-1 angle in the NIOSH ladder safety guidance and never reach past the rails. Two-story homes are better left to a crew.
| Task | Doing it yourself | With Fast Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Reaching the gutter | A ladder you own, moved every few feet. | Ladders with stabilizers, set up by a crew that does it daily. |
| Packed debris | The top layer comes out. The compacted layer often stays. | Hand-cleared down to the floor of the trough. |
| Downspouts | Usually skipped. | Flushed and flow-tested every visit. |
| Hidden damage | Hard to see from a ladder. | Hangers, seams, and fascia checked and photographed. |
| Disposal | You bag it and haul it. | Bagged and hauled away. |
| Your time | Your own time, plus cleanup. | You do not need to be home. |
What affects the price of gutter cleaning
We do not post a flat price, because three houses on the same street can need three different jobs. These are the details that move the quote.
- Feet of gutter
- More linear feet means more time on the ladder and more debris to bag.
- Number of stories
- Two-story gutters take longer and need stabilizers.
- How packed the runs are
- A gutter that has not been cleaned in two years takes longer than one cleaned in spring.
- Roof pitch and access
- Steep roofs, tight side yards, and landscaping near the wall change how we set up.
- Gutter guards
- Guards have to be lifted and put back, which adds a step.
- Downspouts and drain lines
- Downspouts that tie into buried pipe need that line flushed too.
Get a quote by phone
Tell us the address, the number of stories, and what you see in the gutters. We quote it before we book, and the inspection is included.
Call (813) 856-2726
Who cleans your gutters
Fast Pro has worked on Florida homes for more than six years and has completed more than 2,500 jobs. We are licensed and insured, and we will email you a certificate of insurance before the job if you ask for one.
Every visit follows the same checklist, from the ladder setup to the final flush. You get photos at the end, so you can see what was in the gutter and what it looks like now.
Call (813) 856-2726Other services we add to a gutter cleaning
Gutters, downspouts, and the roof share the same water and the same debris. Most customers add one of these to the same visit.
Gutter guard cleaning
Guards slow big debris, but pollen and grit still settle underneath. We lift the screens, clean them, and clear the trough below.
Gutter guard cleaning detailsGutter brightening
A clean trough can still have black streaks on the outside face. We wash them off so the gutters match the rest of the roofline.
Gutter brightening detailsRoof pressure washing
We clear the gutters first, wash the roof with low pressure, then flush the gutters again so the runoff leaves nothing behind.
Roof pressure washing detailsWhere we clean gutters
Oak-heavy yards in Duval and Leon County drop different debris than palm-lined streets in Broward and Miami-Dade, and we plan the job around what your trees do. Pick your county to see the cities we cover.
Miami-Dade County
Miami, Homestead, Florida City, Kendall
See Miami-Dade CountyBroward County
Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Hollywood
See Broward CountyPalm Beach County
West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach
See Palm Beach CountyCollier County
Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate, Ave Maria
See Collier CountyLee County
Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero
See Lee CountySarasota County
Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Siesta Key
See Sarasota CountyHillsborough County
Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City
See Hillsborough CountyOrange County
Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee
See Orange CountyDuval County
Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach
See Duval CountyLeon County
Tallahassee, Lake Jackson, Woodville
See Leon CountyFind your county
Not sure we cover your town? Call us at (813) 856-2726 with your address.
Gutter cleaning questions, answered
How often should gutters be cleaned in Florida?
Twice a year is the minimum: late spring, before hurricane season starts on June 1, and late fall. Gutters under live oaks, pines, or palms usually need three or four visits. Check them after any named storm, even if you cleaned a few weeks earlier.
What does professional gutter cleaning include?
We clear every run by hand, remove debris from the lower roof edge, flush every downspout, and inspect hangers, seams, and fascia. You get before and after photos, and we haul the debris away. Gutter brightening and roof washing can go on the same visit.
How much does gutter cleaning cost?
The price depends on the feet of gutter, the number of stories, how packed the runs are, and whether guards are installed. Call us with those details and we quote it by phone before we book. The inspection is part of the visit and does not cost extra.
What happens if you never clean your gutters?
Water overflows the front edge and runs down the fascia board, which rots over time. It also soaks the soil beside your slab and can back up under the first row of shingles. Wet debris adds weight that pulls hangers loose, and standing water breeds mosquitoes.
Can I clean my own gutters?
On a one-story house with level ground, many homeowners can. Set the ladder at the 4-to-1 angle in the NIOSH ladder safety guidance and never overreach. Two-story houses, sloped yards, and wet roofs are better left to a crew with the right ladders.
Do you clean gutters on two-story homes?
Yes. Two-story gutters take longer and need ladder stabilizers, so the number of stories is one of the things we ask about when we quote. Tell us the height of the roofline when you call and we price it before the visit.
Do you clean gutters that have gutter guards?
Yes. Guards slow large debris, but pollen, seed pods, and shingle grit still settle underneath. We lift the guards or screens, clean them, and clear the trough below. See our gutter guard cleaning page for the details.
What is the difference between gutter cleaning and downspout flushing?
Gutter cleaning clears the trough along the roofline. Downspout flushing runs water through the vertical pipes and any buried drain line to confirm it reaches the ground. We do both on every visit, and the downspout cleaning page explains the second part.
Why are my gutters overflowing when they look clean?
The usual cause is a blockage at a downspout elbow or outlet. Less often, the gutter has lost its pitch, or a seam is leaking. We flush every downspout, watch where the water slows down, and tell you what we see.
Do you clean gutters after a hurricane or tropical storm?
Yes. Storms pack gutters with branches, shredded leaves, and Spanish moss, and one night of wind can fill a gutter that was clean the day before. Storm cleanups move to the front of our schedule, and we flush the downspouts afterward.
Will clogged gutters cause mosquitoes?
They can. Water that sits in a clogged trough for a week or more gives mosquitoes a place to breed, and Florida's warm weather speeds that up. Clearing the debris and restoring the slope toward the downspout removes the standing water.
Which Florida counties do you serve?
We clean gutters for homeowners across Florida. The counties we serve page lists each county and its main cities. If your town is not listed, call and ask.
Do I need to be home during gutter cleaning?
No. As long as we can reach the gutters and the roof edge, we can work while you are out. We send before and after photos when we finish, and we note anything that needs attention.
Ready for clean gutters?
Call and tell us where you are and what the gutters look like. We quote it by phone and find a day that works.
Call (813) 856-2726