Eavestrough cleaning in Ottawa costs $150–$350 for a typical single-family home in 2026. A one-storey bungalow with roughly 120–150 linear feet of trough generally runs $150–$225, a standard two-storey home runs $200–$325, and large or three-storey homes with steep rooflines, dormers, or tree cover run $325–$500. Priced by the foot, most Ottawa companies charge about $1.25–$2.50 per linear foot, with the higher end applying to second-storey and hard-access sections. Add-ons are common: downspout flushing often adds $15–$35 per downspout if it's clogged, and a spring plus fall package usually s...
Cleaners price mostly on ladder time and roof access, which is why storey count matters more than square footage. In 2026, a single-storey Ottawa bungalow — the standard in Alta Vista, Elmvale Acres, and older Nepean — typically runs $150–$225 for a full clean including downspout checks. A two-storey home in Barrhaven, Kanata, or Orléans usually runs $200–$325. Homes with a third storey, steep 10/12-plus pitches, walkout basements that add effective height at the rear, or extensive dormers push into the $325–$500 range because the crew needs longer ladders, roof anchors, or a lift. Townhomes and semis with shorter runs often come in at $120–$180. Detached garages and sheds are usually billed as separate small units at $40–$75 each. Volume matters too: a home under a mature silver maple can hold 50 kg of wet debris in its troughs, and some companies charge extra for excessive debris or bag-out and haul-away rather than bagging on site.
Hand-removal or vacuum extraction of leaves and shingle grit from all trough runs, flushing to confirm flow, clearing downspout entrances, bagging and removing debris, and a visual report on loose spikes, sagging sections, and separated seams. Confirm all five are in your quote — cheap bids often skip the flush test.
Ottawa's climate makes the fall clean non-negotiable and the spring clean strongly advisable. The fall visit should happen after the last leaves drop — generally early-to-mid November in Ottawa — so troughs are clear before freeze-up. Troughs packed with wet leaves in December freeze into solid ice plugs, meltwater backs up under the shingles, and you get ice dams, soaked soffits, and water tracking into wall cavities. The spring clean, usually booked April to May, removes shingle grit, maple keys (those helicopter seeds fill downspouts faster than leaves), and the winter's accumulated debris so spring melt and heavy May rains drain properly away from your foundation. Booking early matters: Ottawa's October–November window is the busiest of the year and companies fill up two to three weeks out, with prices firming up. Late-summer bookings for fall service often get better rates. If you're also planning exterior work, coordinating trades within a single season saves mobilization costs — see our guide on the best month to renovate in Ottawa.
Gutter guards installed in Ottawa run roughly $8–$20 per linear foot depending on type — basic plastic or foam inserts at the low end, aluminum micro-mesh systems at $12–$20, and professionally installed premium hooded systems at $20–$35. For a 150-foot home that's $1,200–$3,000 for micro-mesh. The honest assessment for Ottawa: quality micro-mesh substantially reduces leaf accumulation and can stretch cleaning to once every two or three years, but it does not eliminate maintenance. Fine debris like maple keys, pine needles, and shingle granules still collects on top of the mesh, and in our freeze-thaw climate ice can build on guard surfaces and shed in sheets. Cheap plastic screens frequently make things worse by trapping debris underneath where it's harder to remove. If you have large mature trees directly overhanging the roof, guards can pay for themselves in five to eight years of avoided cleanings; on an open lot in a newer Barrhaven or Riverside South subdivision with young trees, they rarely justify the cost.
Read the maintenance clause. Many guard warranties are voided if the system is never inspected, and some 'lifetime no-clog' guarantees require the installer's own paid annual inspection to remain valid.
Cleaners routinely find problems, and knowing typical 2026 Ottawa prices keeps you from being oversold on the spot. Resecuring loose spikes or replacing them with hidden hangers runs about $8–$20 per hanger. Resealing a leaking seam or end cap is roughly $50–$125 per joint. Re-pitching a sagging run so it drains to the downspout costs about $75–$200 per section. Adding or relocating a downspout runs $100–$250 installed, and downspout extensions to move water at least six feet from the foundation cost $25–$75 each — one of the highest-value small fixes in Ottawa, where spring melt around a foundation is the leading cause of wet basements. Full eavestrough replacement in seamless 5-inch aluminum runs about $9–$15 per linear foot installed, and 6-inch oversized trough (worth considering under big roof areas) runs $12–$20. If a cleaner recommends full replacement, get a second written quote before agreeing — and verify the company the same way you would any trade, using our guide to checking a contractor before hiring in Ottawa.
Cleaning your own troughs saves the $150–$350 fee but carries real risk: falls from ladders are among the most common serious home-maintenance injuries, and Ottawa's two-storey builds with sloped grading and interlock patios below make ladder footing dicey. If you do DIY, use a stabilizer bar so the ladder rests on the roof rather than the trough (leaning on aluminum trough bends it and breaks seals), never overreach, and skip it entirely on wet, icy, or windy days. Note also that the safest cleaning windows in Ottawa — late fall and early spring — are exactly when ground conditions are worst. Professional crews carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage, work from proper ladders and roof anchors, and spot deteriorating flashing, ice-dam damage, and soffit gaps you'd miss. For bungalows with easy access, DIY is reasonable. For anything two storeys or higher, the $200–$325 professional fee is cheap insurance, and any reputable Ottawa company will confirm insurance coverage in writing before the visit.
In 2026, expect $150–$225 for a single-storey Ottawa bungalow, $200–$325 for a standard two-storey home, and $325–$500 for large, steep, or three-storey homes. Per linear foot, most companies charge $1.25–$2.50, with second-storey and hard-access runs at the higher end.
Twice a year for most Ottawa homes — once in spring (April–May) to clear maple keys and shingle grit, and once in late fall (early-to-mid November) after the leaves drop and before freeze-up. Homes with heavy tree cover may need a third mid-fall visit; homes on open lots with young trees can sometimes manage with the fall clean alone.
Clogged troughs freeze solid over winter, causing ice dams that push meltwater under shingles and into soffits and wall cavities. In spring, overflowing water pours against the foundation, which is a leading cause of wet basements. Standing debris also rots fascia and can pull trough sections loose under ice weight.
No. Quality aluminum micro-mesh guards ($12–$20 per linear foot installed) reduce cleaning to roughly every two to three years, but fine debris, maple keys, and pine needles still collect on top and need clearing. Cheap plastic screens often trap debris underneath and make cleaning harder.
Clearing the downspout entrance and a flow test are normally included. Full flushing of a genuinely clogged downspout — sometimes requiring disassembly or an auger — is often an add-on at $15–$35 per downspout. Ask what's included before booking.
Late summer and early fall, before the October–November rush, when companies have open schedules. Booking a spring-plus-fall package with the same company typically saves 10–20% versus two separate one-off visits.