Taking care of the gutters ensures that your home’s exterior keeps its curb appeal year-round. Before trees shed their leaves, heavy rains arrive, and temperatures fall below freezing, it’s important to prepare your gutter system for fall and winter while it’s still summer.
Clean the Roof
Before gutter cleaning, clear the roof of any twigs, leaves, pine needles, pine cones, and accumulated dirt. Pay attention to roof valleys, and areas directly around vents, flashings, chimneys, and other roof protrusions. Cleaning the roof first prevents debris from being blown back into clean gutters.
Clean the Gutter System
Clean the gutter channels, inside and out. Remove twigs, dirt, leaves, baseballs, and any other miscellaneous items waiting to block runoff from exiting the downspouts. Thoroughly rinse the gutters to flush out any remaining silt or grime – even the smallest amount of debris left behind and mixed with moisture can encourage debris buildup and create clogs.
To be fully functional and efficient, a gutter system depends on well-maintained downspouts. Check the downpipes for the loose or missing hardware; debris blocking the gutter outlet; and clogs inside the downspouts. Downpipes should be firmly attached to exterior walls – no shifting as runoff runs through the pipe; is rattled on a windy day. If you use a downspout extension to move water further away from the foundation, ensure it’s still attached properly and hasn’t been damaged.
Look for Damage
Inspect the gutters and downspouts to see what kind of shape they are in and if they’re ready for the fall and winter weather. Look for rust, cracks, pinholes, and loose and/or missing hardware. Check for sagging gutter sections, dents (particularly if aluminum gutters), and gaps between the back of the gutter and fascia boards.
Addressing these issues as soon as possible will help prevent water damage to your home’s exterior.
Proper Gutter Slope
Gutter slope is the angle gutter sections are pitched so that water can flow unimpeded toward the downspouts. Conditions that can alter the gutter’s slope include:
- Heavy rainfall
- Ice and snow
- Debris accumulation combined with standing water
- Loose fasteners
- Aging foundation (shifting, settling)
When you clean the gutters regularly and they still aren’t draining properly, signs that gutter slope might be the reason are:
- Quick buildup of debris after gutter cleaning
- Overflowing gutters
- Standing water
- Disconnected downpipes
- Leaks
- Mold and mildew
- Rust in gutter channels
To adjust the slope, see if brackets and hangers need to be tighten or gutters sections realigned.
Inspect Gutters for Leaks
Inspect joints, end caps, and where gutter sections are joined together for worn caulking or sealant. When sealants become deteriorated, leaks can occur. During fall and winter storms, leaking gutters can become worse. Remove old sealant/caulking and replace with a fresh application.
Inspect the Trees
You don’t want a tree to crash into your roof or tree limbs to scape against the roofing shingles. Make sure the trees on your property are healthy. Trim back the branches of trees growing close to the house and remove any damaged or broken limbs that can land on the roof during a windy day.
Know When to Call a Pro
Follow the numbers game rule – if the same repair needs to be done repeatedly or the damage is extensive or you keep finding water in the basement – call a professional gutter or roofing contractor. Constantly overflowing gutters, cracks in gutter sections, and gutters pulling away from the fascia can be signs of more serious issues that need the expert advice of a pro who can see the big picture and not just an immediate fix.
