🌳 Outdoors
How often should you clean your gutters?
Clean your gutters at least twice a year, in late spring and in late fall; clean them 3–4 times a year if you have overhanging trees.
Why it matters
Clogged gutters overflow and send water behind the fascia, into the walls and down the foundation. The damage is slow and quiet, so it is usually found only after a stained ceiling, a rotten fascia board or a damp basement.
How to do it
- Pick a dry day and use a stable ladder with a spotter; never lean sideways to reach further.
- Wear gloves and scoop the debris into a bucket, working toward the downspout.
- Flush the gutters with a hose and watch that water runs freely to the downspout and out the bottom.
- If a downspout stays blocked, push a hose up from the bottom or use a plumber’s snake.
- Look for sagging sections, loose brackets and leaking joints while you are up there.
In your HouseKiper schedule
Clean gutters and downspouts: every 6 months. Best after leaves fall and before the rainy season. Get a reminder when it is due.
Related tasks
Inspect the roof
Once a year
Clear balcony or terrace drains
Every 3 months
Check walls for cracks and damp
Once a year
Once a year
See it in a checklist
This job is part of the complete home maintenance checklist and of the fall checklist, first-time homeowner checklist and the spring checklist.