Clean your gutters twice a year: in late spring, after the trees drop their seeds and blossoms, and in late fall, once the last leaves are down. If trees hang over the roof, especially pines, which shed needles all year, plan on three or four cleanings. A house with no trees nearby can usually get by with one.
How often to clean gutters by situation#
| Your house |
How often |
Best timing |
| No trees nearby |
Once a year |
Late fall |
| A few deciduous trees in the yard |
Twice a year |
Late spring and late fall |
| Trees overhanging the roof |
Every 3 to 4 months |
Late spring, early fall, late fall, plus winter if needed |
| Pine trees nearby |
3 to 4 times a year |
Spread through the year |
| Gutter guards fitted |
Inspect at least once a year |
Late fall |
NHBC's guide for new homeowners says gutters should be cleaned at least once a year to remove leaves and debris. Treat that as the floor. The real schedule depends on which trees are near the house and when they shed: many maples drop their winged seeds in spring, oaks often hang onto dead leaves well into winter, and pines drop needles in every season.
Time the fall clean for after the leaves are down, not partway through, or you'll be back up the ladder in three weeks.
Signs your gutters need cleaning now#
You don't need to climb up to find out. Watch the gutters during a decent rainstorm and look for:
- Water pouring over the front edge instead of running into the downspout.
- A downspout that only trickles, or stays dry, while the gutter is full.
- Plants, grass or seedlings growing out of the gutter.
- Gutters sagging or pulling away from the fascia board. Wet leaves and standing water are heavy.
- Streaks, moss or damp patches on the wall below. NHBC notes that wet patches under gutters can mean the gutter or downpipe is blocked.
- Water pooling along the foundation or a damp basement wall after rain.
Why clogged gutters matter#
A blocked gutter dumps roof water right next to the house. Over time that soaks the fascia boards, stains and damages walls, washes out soil along the foundation and finds its way into basements and crawl spaces. The EPA's guide to mold and moisture lists cleaning and repairing roof gutters regularly, and making sure the ground slopes away from the foundation, among its basic moisture control steps.
Check where each downspout empties while you're at it. One that drops water onto a patio or flower bed against the wall defeats the point of the gutter. A downspout extension or splash block that carries water a few feet away is a cheap fix. If you have a basement with a sump pump, a pump that runs constantly after every storm is often a drainage clue, and the sump pump maintenance guide covers what to check.
How to clean gutters safely#
The ladder is the dangerous part of this job. The UK Health and Safety Executive's ladder safety guidance is clear on the basics:
- Set a leaning ladder at the 1-in-4 angle: one unit out from the wall for every four units up, about 75 degrees.
- Don't rest the top of the ladder on weak surfaces such as plastic gutters or glass.
- Keep three points of contact while climbing.
- Don't overreach. Your belt buckle should stay between the ladder's side rails. Climb down and move the ladder instead.
If the only place to lean the ladder is the gutter itself, a ladder stand-off (also sold as a stabilizer) holds the top away from it and rests on the wall instead.
The cleaning itself:
- Start at the downspout end and work away from it, so you clear the outlet first.
- Scoop the debris out by hand with gloves or a plastic gutter scoop, and drop it into a bucket hooked to the ladder or onto a tarp below. Don't push it toward the downspout.
- When the gutter is clear, run a garden hose from the far end and watch where the water goes. It should flow steadily to the downspout without pooling.
- If the downspout is blocked, try flushing it from the bottom or using a plumber's snake from the top.
- While you're up there, look at the joints, end caps and hangers. Dripping seams and loose brackets are the next things to fail.
Ground-based gutter cleaning tools on extension poles work well for single-story homes. For a second story, a steep roof, a conservatory underneath, or anywhere you'd need to reach over something, hire a gutter cleaner with proper access equipment.
Do gutter guards mean you never have to clean?#
No. Guards keep out leaves but not everything. Pine needles, seed pods and the fine grit that washes off asphalt shingles still get through or pile up on top, and debris sitting on the guard can stop water getting in at all. Inspect gutters with guards at least once a year, usually in late fall, and clean them when they need it.
Make it part of the seasonal routine#
The fall gutter clean belongs in your winter preparation checklist, since gutters full of wet leaves are the last thing you want when it starts freezing. The spring check fits into the spring home maintenance list. If you have a problem downspout that clogs every year, write down which one, and set ChoreLists.com to remind you a week or two after the tree above it sheds.