Cleaning Gutters With a Pressure Washer: Pros and Risks
Updated
Short answer
A pressure washer wand will blast debris out of a gutter, but it throws sludge over the roof, siding and windows, can drive water under shingles, and packs downspout clogs tighter. A garden hose flush after hand scooping does the job better. Washing the outside of gutters is a separate service at $1 to $3 per foot.
Where it goes wrong
- Sludge sprayed across the roof, siding, windows and you.
- High pressure lifting shingle edges near the gutter.
- Clogs forced deeper into downspout elbows or buried lines.
- A ladder plus a pressure wand's kickback is a bad combination.
Better
Scoop by hand, then flush with a garden hose. For black streaks on the outside of the gutter, use a gutter-safe cleaner and a low-pressure rinse; see gutter exterior washing.
Quick answers
Is it OK to pressure wash gutters?
The inside, rarely; it sprays sludge and can damage shingles. The outside face can be washed gently with a cleaner and low pressure.
Rather have someone else do it?
Tell us the address, how tall the house is and what you need. A local crew calls back with a price before anything is booked.