1. [Home](/) 2. [Guides](/guides/) 3. [Gutters, leaks and keeping water out of your house](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/) 4. Gutter maintenance through the seasons # Gutter maintenance through the seasons Gutters only work when water can get in, along and out. A few checks across the year keep them doing that and protect your fascia, siding and foundation. ## Key takeaways - Clean gutters at least in spring and fall, and more often under trees that drop leaves, needles or seeds. - Gutter guards reduce cleaning but do not eliminate it. They need occasional checking too. - Downspouts should discharge several feet from the foundation, with the ground sloping away. - Sagging, stained, pulling-away or standing-water gutters are signs of a problem to address. ## How often to clean There is no single schedule that fits every house. A home with open sky overhead may need cleaning twice a year. A house under mature oaks, maples or pines may need it more often, especially in late fall when leaves come down in a rush and again in spring when seeds and blossoms drop. A useful rhythm for most of Southwest Ohio is early fall, after the first leaves begin to drop, and again once most of the leaves are down. Add a spring check after winter ice and pollen. After a big storm, look at the gutters from the ground to see whether branches or debris have landed in them. Cleaning means more than scooping leaves. Flush the trough with a hose, starting at the end opposite the downspout, and watch the water. It should move steadily to the downspout and out the bottom. If it pools, sits or spills over the front, the gutter may have lost its slope or the downspout may be clogged. Shingle grit in the gutter is normal on an aging roof, but a lot of it can mean the shingles are wearing out. If you see heavy granule buildup year after year, have a roofer assess the roof. ## Gutter guards: what they do Guards, screens and covers are meant to let water in and keep debris out. They can cut down on how often you climb a ladder, which is a real safety benefit. They also have limits. - Fine debris such as pine needles, seeds and roof grit can still get past or sit on top of some designs and form a mat. - Guards can make it harder to see problems inside the trough, like standing water or a loose seam. - During heavy rain, water can shoot over the top of some covers. - Winter ice can build up on and around them. A guard that suits one yard may not suit another. If you have a lot of needles or tiny seeds, ask a roofer which types work with your trees and roof pitch. Whatever you choose, plan to check and rinse them at least once or twice a year. For adding or replacing gutters and guards, see [gutter services](/services/gutters/). ## Downspouts and extensions Downspouts are the part most people forget. Water that leaves the gutter and lands beside the foundation can undermine the work the gutter did. Check each downspout during a rain. Water should flow steadily from the bottom. If it trickles or backs up in the gutter, there is a clog, so try flushing it from the top with a hose or gently clearing it from the bottom. Do not push hard tools into a downspout that might damage it. Add extensions or splash blocks so water leaves the house by several feet at least, and make sure the soil slopes away from the walls. In much of the region, clay-heavy soil drains slowly, so water dropped next to the foundation stays there and can seep into basements and crawl spaces. Where extensions cross a lawn, consider ones that roll up or hinge so mowing is easy. One downspout serving a very large roof area, or a long run of gutter, may be overloaded in a downpour. Overflow at one spot during storms is a sign to ask about an additional downspout or a larger size. ## Signs your gutters are failing Look at your gutters from the ground, in daylight, and again in a rainstorm. These are the signs that something needs attention: - **Sagging or pulling away from the fascia.** Loose fasteners or soft wood behind them. - **Standing water or plants growing in the trough.** The slope has been lost or the outlet is blocked. - **Stains or streaks on the outside face.** Water is overflowing or leaking at seams. - **Peeling paint, dark marks or soft spots on the fascia and soffit.** Water has been reaching the wood. Our [guide to keeping water out](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/) explains how rot develops. - **Rust, holes or cracks.** The metal is wearing through. - **Water falling in a sheet behind the gutter.** It may be getting behind the trough, which can soak the fascia and rafter ends. - **Soil erosion, pooling or a wet basement wall** below a downspout. - **Icicles or ice ridges that form heavily** along the eaves in winter, which point to attic heat loss as well as drainage trouble. One issue can often be repaired by re-hanging or resealing. Several together, or soft fascia behind them, usually mean replacement is a better choice than another patch. ## Doing it safely Falls from ladders are among the most common home-maintenance injuries. If you clean your own gutters, set the ladder on firm, level ground, extend it well above the gutter line, keep your body between the rails, and never lean sideways to reach further. Stay away from power lines and service drops. Skip it on wet or windy days, and never use a metal ladder near wires. A tall or steep house, a second-story gutter, or a roofline with bad access is a job for a pro. Anything that involves stepping onto the roof is not a gutter-cleaning task. If you notice damage while you are up there, take photos and let a roofer look. For issues that go beyond the gutter, such as rot in the roof edge, see [roof repair](/services/roof-repair/), or [contact us](/contact/) if you are unsure what you are seeing. ## Frequently asked questions Do I still need to clean gutters if I have guards? Usually yes, though less often. Fine debris and roof grit can build up on or under the guard. Check and rinse them at least once or twice a year, and after major storms. How far from the house should a downspout empty? Several feet, with the ground sloping away from the foundation. Slow-draining clay soil makes this especially important, because water left near the wall tends to stay there. Should I replace gutters or repair them? A loose section or a leaking seam can often be repaired. Widespread rust, sagging along most of the run, or rotted fascia behind them usually point to replacement. A roofer can check the boards behind the gutter before you decide. 4 min read. ### Want us to handle it? Avsten Roofing & Construction works in Hamilton, Fairfield, Liberty Township, Middletown, Monroe, West Chester Township, Trenton, Lebanon. [Get a quote](/contact/)[Call 513-266-8289](tel:+15132668289) ### More in this guide - [Gutters, leaks and keeping water out of your house](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/) - [Finding the source of a roof leak](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/finding-a-roof-leak/) ### Related services - [Roof Repair](/services/roof-repair/) - [Gutters & Downspouts](/services/gutters/) - [Siding](/services/siding/) ### Service areas - [Hamilton](/areas/hamilton/) - [Fairfield](/areas/fairfield/) - [Liberty Township](/areas/liberty-township/) - [Middletown](/areas/middletown/) - [Monroe](/areas/monroe/) - [West Chester Township](/areas/west-chester-township/) - [Trenton](/areas/trenton/) - [Lebanon](/areas/lebanon/) ### Other guides - [Replacing a roof in Southwest Ohio](/guides/roof-replacement-guide/) - [Storm and hail damage: what to do](/guides/storm-damage-guide/) ## Call us at 513-266-8289 or send a quote request and we will set up your roof inspection. [Get a quote](/contact/) [Call 513-266-8289](tel:+15132668289) --- **Avsten Roofing & Construction** · 4097 Tonya Trail, Hamilton, OH 45011 · 513-266-8289 · sales@avstengc.com [Get a quote](/contact/) · [Services](/services/) · [Guides](/guides/) · [FAQ](/faq/)