When Should I Clean My Gutters?

Date Posted:

July 16, 2024

Author:

Daryl Gentry

It's dirty work, but everybody has to do it.

Your gutters should be kept clean and free of dead leaves, bird nests, and other debris that can get stuck in them.

When you own a home, cleaning your gutters is just another essential thing on the to-do list.

How often and when you should clean your gutters depends on many different things.

Some things that can change how often you need to have your gutters cleaned are having trees hanging over your roof, living in an area that gets a lot of rain, or having an old roof.

In the article below, we will discuss cleaning gutters, why it's important, how often it needs to be done, and how to do it.

Why Keeping Your Gutters Clean Is Important

One of the most important things a homeowner can do is keep their gutters clean because clogged gutters can cause many problems.

When gutters aren't cleaned often, water builds up and has nowhere to go but into the house, which can cause substantial water damage.

Too much moisture in your house can cause cracks in the foundation or mold growth, which can attract bugs and rodents.

These problems can be dangerous and lead t costly repairs, especially if they happen more than once.

Taking the time to clean your gutters regularly can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Safety Tips for Cleaning Gutters

Cleaning the gutters can be dangerous if you don't take the proper safety measures.

If you're afraid of heights or don't feel safe on a ladder, let a professional, like TK Roofing & Gutters, do this job.

If you feel like you can do the job, here are some safety tips to ensure you don't hurt yourself.

Use a good quality, tall ladder
Check the ladder every time before you use it.
Always keep one foot and one hand on the ladder.
Have someone steady the ladder while you're on it.
Before you start, check the gutters to make sure that no animals or insects have made a home in them.
When you clean the gutters, protect your eyes and hands.

When Should You Clean Your Gutters?

In general, you should do gutter cleaning at least twice a year.

Depending on what kind of trees you have near your house (like pine trees or oak trees), you may need to clean them every three months.

Rain and Storms

Heavy rain and debris in the gutters can do long-term damage to the fascia of your house.

Excess water from unclean gutters after a storm could even leak into your home's crawlspaces, foundation, or basement.

If you live in a wooded area or near trees, you might have to clean your gutters more often, especially if it rains a lot.

If you know bad weather is coming, you may want to check your gutters at the very least.

The Impact of Pests

Pools of water are a breeding ground for pests.

Mosquitoes can breed in pools of water, and carpenter ants may come to your gutters to eat any trash that stays there for too long.

If you check your gutters once a month, you can find out about pests before they take up space in your home.

Cleaning Your Gutter System

Gutter maintenance and cleaning your gutters can take a long time, but it's an important job.

Professional gutter cleaners can do the job for you, but it can also be a DIY project.

First, you need to make sure you have the proper safety gear. You'll need gloves, a dust mask to keep dirt from getting in your lungs, and a pair of safety goggles.

You'll need a ladder tall enough to reach your roof; if you do it by yourself, you might also need something to keep the ladder steady.

Some people might think they can avoid standing on a ladder by crawling around on the roof instead. This isn't a good choice. At least you can put your feet down safely on a ladder.

No matter what material your roof is made of, it could be a slippery mess to walk on. You could hurt yourself or your roof if you fell. Don't clean your gutters while you're standing on your roof.

After you've picked up dead leaves and other big pieces, use a garden hose to move the rest of the trash to where your downspout is.

You can remove the trash with a pressure washer or attachment, but be careful not to damage your gutter system.

You'll also need to find or install a way to keep your downspout from getting clogged since a nasty clog can stop water from flowing and even break your downspout.