Clogged gutters cause water to back up under your roof, rot your fascia boards, flood your foundation, and create ice dams in winter. Cleaning them twice a year takes about an hour and prevents thousands of dollars in water damage.
You need a sturdy extension ladder, work gloves, a gutter scoop or garden trowel, a bucket, a garden hose with a spray nozzle, and safety glasses. Set your ladder on firm level ground and never lean it against the gutters themselves — use a ladder stabilizer to rest it against the house. Always have someone on the ground when you are on a ladder.
Starting at the downspout end of each gutter run use your gloved hand or gutter scoop to remove leaves, twigs, and compacted debris. Work toward the downspout rather than away from it. Drop debris into your bucket rather than onto the ground — it is much easier to clean up. Work in sections moving the ladder frequently rather than reaching too far.
Once the bulk of debris is removed flush each gutter section with your garden hose starting at the far end and working toward the downspout. This pushes remaining debris toward the drain and shows you exactly how well your gutters are draining. Watch for leaks at seams and joints as the water flows through.
If water does not drain freely through the downspout it is clogged. Insert your garden hose directly into the top of the downspout and run full pressure water down. If that does not clear it use a plumber's snake to break up the blockage from the bottom. A clogged downspout is the most common cause of gutter overflow.
While you are up there check your gutters for sagging sections, separated joints, holes, and rust spots. Gutters should slope slightly toward the downspout — about 1/4 inch drop per 10 feet. If a section is holding standing water it needs to be realigned. Seal small holes with gutter sealant and reattach any loose hangers.
Clean your gutters twice a year — once in late spring after seed pods fall and once in late November after all leaves have dropped. If you have pine trees directly overhead clean three times per year as pine needles clog gutters faster than any other debris.
Never get on a roof to clean gutters — always work from a ladder. If your gutters are severely sagging, pulling away from the fascia, or rusted through they need replacing rather than cleaning. Two-story and higher gutters are best left to professionals with proper equipment.
Every project is different. Upload a photo of your specific problem and ask Handy Helper — our AI will analyze your situation and guide you through it step by step for free.
Ask Handy Helper — It’s Free ↗