What It Means
Gutter cleaning means scooping leaves, needles, twigs and grit out of the gutters along the roof edge and making sure the downspoutsDownspoutThe vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation. See more run clear. Colorado State University Extension advises clearing gutters and the roof in spring and fall at a minimum, and again after any heavy rainstorm or windstorm. A blocked gutter overflows, dropping roof water right beside the foundation instead of sending it down the downspout and away from the house.
Try It: Count This Year's Gutter Checks
Enter how many heavy rainstorms or windstorms usually hit in a year. CSU Extension's minimum is spring and fall, plus a check after each big storm.
Overhanging trees keep dropping leaves and needles into the gutters, so CSU Extension expects more frequent clearing than the minimum.
Spring and fall, then a look after each big storm.
How It Sounds at Home
- "The gutters are overflowing again, it's all pine needles."
- "Can you hold the ladder while I clear the front gutter?"
- "We should get someone out for the second-story gutters before fall."
The Breakdown
How often
| Situation | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Any house with gutters | Spring and fall, at a minimum | CSU Extension |
| After a heavy rainstorm or windstorm | Check and clear again | CSU Extension |
| Trees hanging over the roof | More often than the minimum, since the branches keep shedding | CSU Extension |
| Water sitting in the gutter in warm weather | Clear it, since some mosquitoes breed in standing water in gutters | Illinois Extension |
Worked example. A house that sees three big storms a year needs at least five checks: the spring and fall cleanings plus one after each storm. If a maple hangs over the back roof, plan on more.
Make it last between cleanings. Trim back branches that overhang the roof; CSU Extension's fire-resistant landscaping guide asks for overhanging branches to be pruned to 1010,000 stepsA popular daily step goal that began as the name of a 1960s Japanese pedometer; later studies find health benefits begin well below it. See more feet above the roof. Buhata's own suggestion: after each cleaning, watch the next rain and confirm water comes out the bottom of every downspout rather than spilling over the edge.
Good to Know
Cleaning gutters is ladder work. OSHA's ladder guidance says to inspect the ladder before using it, set it on firm, level ground and keep three points of contact while climbing. Buhata's own suggestion is to hire a pro for a second-storyUser storyA short description of something a product should do, written from the point of view of the person who needs it, often in the form "As a, I want, so that." See more gutter. CSU Extension's advice sits in its guide to fire-resistant landscaping, so in wildfire country a clear gutter also means less dry fuel against the house.
FAQ
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Colorado State University Extension advises spring and fall at a minimum, plus after every heavy rainstorm or windstorm. Houses with trees hanging over the roof need it more often.
Do gutter guards mean I never have to clean my gutters?
No. LeafFilter, which makes gutter guardsGutter guardsCovers, screens or inserts fitted to a roof gutter to keep leaves and debris out while letting rain through, so the gutter needs clearing less often. See more, says they reduce how often gutters need cleaning but no system is completely maintenance-free.
Is it safe to clean gutters myself?
A single-story gutter is a common do-it-yourself job if you follow OSHA's ladder guidance: inspect the ladder, set it on firm, level ground and keep three points of contact. Buhata suggests hiring a pro for anything on a second story.
Do It in Buhata
Maintenance (Household X)
Add "Clean gutters and downspouts" to Maintenance in the Household X add-on on a six-month schedule, and add a one-off Task after any big storm.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Downspout
The vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation.
- Gutter guards
Covers, screens or inserts fitted to a roof gutter to keep leaves and debris out while letting rain through, so the gutter needs clearing less often.
- Roof inspection
A look over a roof and the attic beneath it for damaged shingles, wear and leaks. FEMA advises checking the roof surface at least once a year.
- Seasonal home maintenance
Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.
- Sump pump
A pump set in a pit in a basement floor that switches on as groundwater collects there and sends it through a pipe away from the house.
Sources
Colorado State University Extension, "Fire-Resistant Landscaping"; Illinois Extension, "Don't get bugged; eliminate mosquito breeding habitats"; LeafFilter, "Do Gutter Guards Need to Be Cleaned?"; OSHA, "Portable Ladder Safety"
- extension.colostate.edu/resource/fire-resistant-landscaping
- extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/dont-get-bugged-eliminate-mosquito-breeding-habitats
- www.leaffilter.com/blog/gutter-cleaning/do-gutter-guards-need-to-be-cleaned
- www.osha.gov/Publications/portable_ladder_qc.html
Last updated .