Best Time To Clean Your Gutters
Gutters are an important part of your home’s drainage system. Your gutters and downspouts direct rain and melting snow away from your home’s foundation. If they leak or overflow, they may cause water to collect and seep into your foundation walls then into your basement. That’s why it’s important to clean and inspect them regularly as part of routine home maintenance. When is the best time to clean your gutters? Here are a few things to consider.
Spring
For many, spring is the ideal time to clean and inspect your gutters. Spring rain and storms will be coming soon and you’ll want to ensure your gutters are free from clogs so they can flow properly to handle all of that water.
Try to wait until right after the flowering trees and shrubs have bloomed and dropped their seeds and petals as those will likely have found their way in to your gutters.
Fall
Another good time to clean your gutters and downspouts is in the fall. Especially if you live in an area with deciduous trees. As the leaves begin to fall, they will easily find their way in to your gutters. This leads to potential clogs and water damage.
Wait until after most of the leaves have dropped from your trees to give your gutters a good cleanout to ensure they are ready for the coming winter snow. You may find that you have to clean them more than once throughout the season if you have a lot of trees nearby.
Tips
When you are ready to clean and inspect your gutters and downspouts, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- Use a sturdy ladder and wear protective gloves and eyewear.
- Use a leaf blower to remove as much debris as possible before scooping the rest out by hand.
- Check your gutters for signs of damage, such as cracks or leaks. Make repairs as needed.
- Check aluminum gutter joints to ensure the caulking is still intact. Apply new caulking when needed.
How About Gutter Guards?
You can certainly consider installing gutter guards or downspout guards to reduce the amount of debris that enters your gutters. However, there is no substitute for cleaning out your gutters regularly. The guards can fall in, leaving them useless. Or leaves and debris can accumulate on top of these guards. This can block water from entering and instead overflow. Even with guards in place, it’s important to clean them out at least twice per year.
So When Is the Best Time?
It is recommended to clean and inspect your gutters at least twice annually. Spring and Fall are the preferred times of year as that’s when your gutters typically get the most use. Be sure to add this task to your spring and fall home maintenance checklist.
Cover photo by Jack Blueberry on Unsplash
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