Questions to ask a gutter cleaning company before you hire

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What should you ask before booking a gutter cleaning?

Ask enough to know exactly what you are buying, who is liable if something goes wrong, and what happens if the crew finds a problem. The questions below are grouped in that order. Write the answers down, or better, ask for them in the estimate.

Questions about the price

1. Is the price flat, per foot, per hour or by the size of the house? The surveys show all four methods in use. HomeGuide lists flat rates, per-foot rates of $0.50 to $2.50 and hourly rates of $40 to $80, and Angi notes some companies price by square footage instead. Two quotes on different bases are hard to compare.
2. How many feet of gutter and how many downspouts did you price, on how many stories? Every survey charges more per foot for a second or third story.
3. Does the price include clearing the downspouts? HomeGuide adds $60 to $150 for heavily clogged downspouts, and Angi lists downspout cleaning at $50 to $100.
4. Is taking the debris away included? HomeGuide says some companies charge $20 to $35 to haul it off.
5. If I have guards, is removing and refitting them included? HomeGuide adds $30 to $80 to remove a screen for cleaning.
6. Is there a surcharge for a steep roof or a gutter that has not been cleaned in a long time? Angi gives 15% for a steeper roof and 10% to 50% for neglected gutters.

Questions about the job

1. Will you run water through each downspout and tell me where it discharges? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says gutters should carry rainwater at least 5 feet away from the foundation. The guidance is about where the water ends up, not only about the trough.
2. Will you check the slope and the hangers? The Department of Energy's Building America guidance says gutters should fall at least 1/16 inch per foot toward the downspouts, with downspouts every 20 to 50 feet.
3. What will you do if you find damage? The answer you want is that they will show you, photograph it and give you a written price before doing anything extra.

Questions about safety and insurance

1. Can I see your certificate of liability insurance? The Federal Trade Commission advises asking any contractor for proof of insurance. Check the dates and the business name.
2. Who will be on the ladder: your employees or someone else? The Attorney General's guidance says subcontractors who do home improvements must register too, even if they never sign a contract with you, so it is fair to ask who will turn up.
3. How do you set up ladders? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's ladder rule for workers sets a leaning ladder with its foot about one-quarter of its working length out from the wall, and requires it to extend at least 3 feet above a roof edge used as a landing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says the base sliding out from a wrong angle causes about 40% of ladder injury cases.
4. How will you work around the power lines? Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission says to stay at least 10 feet from overhead lines and to move ladders flat on the ground. Point out the line that feeds your house before work starts.

Questions about the paperwork

1. What is your Pennsylvania home improvement contractor number? Registered contractors must print it on their estimates and contracts. A company that only cleans may say it is not required to register; what Pennsylvania requires explains why the law leaves that open.
2. Will you put the scope and price in writing? The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, materials, completion date and price. For a home improvement job above $500, Pennsylvania requires a signed written contract that also states your right to cancel within three business days.
3. When do you want to be paid? The FTC advises against paying the full amount up front. On contracts above $5,000, such as larger replacements, state law caps the deposit at one-third of the price, with a narrow exception for some large retailers.
4. Is there a guarantee, and what does it cover? If the company offers one, get it in writing. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department's advice after storms is to get everything in writing, including contractor guarantees.

What answers should make you hesitate?

• A price that will only be given once the crew is on the roof.
• An offer to start today if you agree now; the FTC lists pressure for an immediate decision as a scam sign.
• Cash only, or full payment before the work.
• A request that you obtain any permits yourself, which the FTC also lists.

The broader checks to run before you hire, including how to look a company up, are in how to choose a gutter company. Price ranges to compare against are in the cost guide, and local businesses are on the gutter cleaning directory page.

Sources

1. How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
2. How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? (2026), HomeGuide
3. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
4. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
5. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (2008 Act 132), Pennsylvania General Assembly
6. Power Up Your Safety: PUC Essential Electric Tips for Pennsylvania's Warmer Months, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
7. 1926.1053 - Ladders., Occupational Safety and Health Administration
8. Ladder Safety, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC)
9. Gutters and Downspouts, U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center
10. Text Version of the Mold House Tour, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
11. Shapiro Administration Provides Advice on Claims, Avoiding Scams Following Strong Storms and Flooding, Pennsylvania Insurance Department