Your Seasonal Gutter Maintenance Checklist

Gutters work hard and get ignored until something overflows. Use this spring, summer, fall and winter checklist to keep yours in shape all year.

Why gutter maintenance matters

Gutters collect a surprising amount of water. When they clog or sag, that water spills over the edge, saturating fascia boards, staining siding, eroding landscaping and pooling against the foundation. Over time, that can mean rotted wood, damp basements and costly repairs that have nothing to do with the gutters themselves.

The good news: most problems are preventable with simple seasonal checks. If you're not comfortable on a ladder, many of these items can be inspected from the ground, and the rest can be handled by a professional.

Spring: recover from winter

Winter is hard on gutters. Ice and snow add weight, and freeze-thaw cycles can open seams and loosen fasteners.

• Clear out seeds, blossoms and debris that collected over winter
• Check that hangers are tight and the gutters haven't pulled away from the fascia
• Look for sagging sections where water pools instead of draining
• Flush downspouts with a garden hose to confirm they flow freely
• Inspect seams and end caps for drips during the first spring rain

Summer: check flow and slope

Summer storms dump a lot of water quickly, which is a great test of whether your system is sized and sloped correctly.

• Watch the gutters during a heavy rain; overflow at one spot often means a clog or poor slope
• Make sure downspout extensions or splash blocks carry water several feet from the foundation
• Trim back branches that overhang the roof
• Look for nests from birds or wasps in gutters and downspouts
• Check for peeling paint or staining on fascia behind the gutter, a sign of hidden leaks

Fall: the most important cleaning

If you only clean your gutters once a year, do it in late fall after most leaves have dropped. Homes surrounded by trees may need a mid-fall and late-fall cleaning.

• Remove all leaves, needles and twigs, then flush the system
• Clear downspout elbows, the most common spot for packed clogs
• Reattach any loose downspout straps
• Disconnect garden hoses and make sure extensions won't trap water that can freeze
• Consider gutter covers if you're cleaning more than twice a year

Winter: watch for ice

Ice dams form when heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the roof, which refreezes at the cold eaves. Gutters full of ice can tear loose and water can back up under shingles.

• From the ground, look for large icicles or ridges of ice along the eaves
• Never chip ice off the roof or gutters with tools; it damages shingles
• Watch interior ceilings and walls near exterior walls for new stains
• Note recurring ice dams; they usually point to attic insulation or ventilation issues

When to call a professional

Call in help if your gutters are pulling away from the house, leaking at multiple seams, overflowing even when clean, or if you see rot on the fascia boards behind them. These usually mean the system is undersized, incorrectly pitched, or nearing the end of its life.

RemodelPro Contracting offers free, no-obligation gutter assessments. We'll tell you whether a repair, a cover system, or new seamless gutters makes the most sense for your home.

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