When Is the Best Time to Clean Your Gutters and Why?

a part of the roof of a house and a gutter which is filled with leaves

It’s normal not to put too much thought into your gutters. After all, they’re there to do their job, which is to collect rainwater that flows from the roof through them down to your drains. Despite the fact that we may not put much thought into our gutters, they play an important role in preserving your home and if not taken care of properly, this can lead to costly damage further down the road. So, if you’re wondering when is the best time to clean your gutters and why you should do so at all, keep reading below.

When is the best time to clean your gutters?

Answering the question “when is the best time to clean gutters” can be a bit complicated because every case will be different. You might live in an area that gets a lot of rain or wind, or you might live in a relatively sunny place with little wind. Ultimately though, most experts agree that you should have your gutters cleaned once or twice a year, around autumn or spring.

This comes with a caveat though, as there are other times during the year when you might need this service carried out for you or even do it yourself. Here are a few pointers that are relevant when cleaning gutters for every season.

Spring

Showers in the spring can sometimes be on the heavy side. This can lead to them washing silt, sand and fine debris into the roof guttering causing blockages and added weight, and providing the perfect setting for seedlings to take root, which will ultimately harm your gutters in the long run.

Summer

With summer comes a lot of growth, which means plants and grass emerging from your guttering. This vegetation will block the water flow, especially during rains and the water will overflow, possibly causing structural damage if not addressed quickly.

Autumn

Autumn is known for leaf fall as well as heavy winds. If your home is near a woody area or lots of trees, your gutters are likely to be full of leaves. And the worst part is that when it starts raining, the leaves will turn into rotten mush, which will block your downpipes.

Winter

Decomposing debris will slow down the flow of water, which will freeze in the cold conditions and will place unnecessary weight and strain on your gutter system, leading to breakages, leaks and overflows.

Why is it important to clean your gutters?

There are several reasons why clean gutters are important. Here are a few of them:

Roof protection: Avoid a rotten or leaky roof by unclogging your gutters. Clogged gutters generally give rainwater nowhere to run causing damage to your roof.
Water damage prevention: Both interior and exterior water damage can occur if you don’t clean your gutters. This happens when gutters and downpipes are blocked with leaves and debris and rainwater therefore doesn’t drain properly. Water then tends to overflow and cause unnecessary, and often costly damage.
Keep pests away: In order to avoid a pest infestation, consider cleaning your gutters as not doing so will attract birds, insects and rodents.
Avoid a cracked foundation: When the passageway of the water draining down from your roof is blocked from traveling away from your home, it can gather around the foundation of your house and lead to cracks when the water freezes in winter.
Prevent damage: Overall, when you get your gutters cleaned, you’ll also help prevent rotting fascia boards, water damage to walls, windows and ceilings, insulation. Water can also permeate through to the internal walls, causing damp and mould spores.
Prevent toxic mould: Mould loves water and your roof and gutters are one place where there’s plenty of it, especially during the rainy season.
Prevent moss growth: Moss, which acts like a sponge, can prevent your roof from properly drying out. If left alone, this dampness can permeate the tiles and roof and possibly cause structural damage.
Save on extra costs: Avoid having to repair or replace your roof as well as installing new gutters if your old ones are too dirty or clogged up.

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