Cleaning your gutters is a home maintenance task you don’t want to put off. Oftentimes, waiting to clean your gutters until you see that there’s a problem means they’ve already caused damage to your home, so it’s something homeowners need to stay ahead of.

Below, we’ve explained the right time to clean your gutters and provided expert insight about gutter cleaning and preventative home maintenance. 

How Often to Clean Gutters

Most people should clean gutters at least twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. However, the number of times you should clean your gutters may increase or decrease depending on the number and type of trees surrounding your home, as the presence of trees directly influences the buildup in your home’s gutters.

Chris Counahan, a home improvement expert at Leaf Home, explains that you may need to clean your gutters more frequently if your area receives significant rainfall or if your yard is full of big trees. In addition to rainfall, snowfall should be accounted for.

“Regions with heavy snowfall are particularly vulnerable to snow-related gutter damage,” Counahan says. “Regular clean-outs and installing durable, well-supported gutter guards can help filter meltwater through your gutters more successfully—helping to keep your home safer during the winters.”

It’s important that you don’t wait for gutter buildup before cleaning. Unfortunately, many homeowners wait until they notice water coming over the top of their gutters or a lack of drainage from their downspouts before cleaning their gutters. Instead, gutter cleaning should be treated as preventative maintenance.

“Homeowners should clean their gutters with the goal of preventing buildup, not addressing buildup after it happens,” Counahan says. “Timing is less important so long as you are cleaning gutters.”

If you wait until buildup occurs to clean your gutters, there’s a good chance damage has already occurred to your home. If you’re on the fence about when to clean your gutters, it’s best to tackle it now rather than waiting, especially if you’re entering a season of heavy precipitation.

Jim Morino, a gutter and roofing expert and CEO of Pinnacle Home Improvements, recommends making sure your gutters are free and clear of clutter when you know you’ll be up against heavy rain or snow.

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Why Should You Clean Your Gutters?

Gutters are essential for shedding the water that falls on a home. However, they’re prone to trapping leaves, twigs, roofing material, and other debris, which leads to buildup. This buildup harbors moisture, which can result in mold and mildew, while also creating a spot for pests to thrive.

In addition to harboring moisture, the improper drainage resulting from clogged gutters reroutes water. Instead of draining through the downspouts, the water can end up in your walls, leading to severe water damage and potential mold issues.

Tips for Cleaning Gutters

To help you stay on top of cleaning your gutters and increase your home’s success, here are some pro tips for cleaning gutters:

• Hire a professional to clean your gutters. Counahan explains how DIY cleaning can be dangerous and that homeowners can often get injured if the correct precaution isn’t taken into account.
• Don’t forget downspouts and drains. No matter how thoroughly you clean your gutters, it’s all for nothing if you ignore the downspouts. “Downspouts and drains shouldn’t be forgotten about either as they can get clogged up as well,” Morino says.
• Wear gloves. You’ll have to pull out large debris by hand, and work gloves can protect you from cuts, Morino says.
• Enlist a friend for help. If you do plan on climbing a ladder yourself to clean your gutters, Counahan recommends always having someone there to stabilize the ladder as you work.
• Inspect your ladder before use. Counahan also suggests always checking your ladder before climbing to clean your gutters to ensure it’s in working order.
• Install gutter guards. Both Counahan and Morino advocate for gutter guards. Sure, they cost money upfront, but gutter guards can save you money over hiring professionals in the future and keep you from putting your own body on the line to clean the gutters twice a year.