How TO MAINTAIN
GUTTERS

With clogged gutters, your home could suffer floods, rotting wood and roof shingles (and, consequently, termites and carpenter ants), and soil erosion—all easy enough to prevent.

Supplies

  • Work gloves
  • Ladder
  • Gutter scoop (or old rubber spatula)
  • Biodegradable bags
  • Garden hose with a spray nozzle
  • Stiff-bristled brush

How-To

  1. 1. Wearing gloves and working your way around entire house, remove leaves and other items with a gutter scoop and deposit them in a bag, moving the ladder as you work. Also, be sure to remove any debris from the top of the downspout opening.
  2. 2. While clearing downspout openings, look to see if there is anything lodged inside the spout itself. If so, unscrew or jiggle free the elbow at the base. If the downspout is attached to an underground drain, you’ll need to take apart the connection.
  3. 3. Spray water up through the base of the downspout until it is clear. Replace elbow (or underground connection).
  4. 4. Loosen any remaining dirt and particles with a brush.
  5. 5. With the hose, spray the gutter to remove dirt. Also gently spray a little water on the roof, directing the flow down from above; do not aim the stream underneath shingles, because this can cause them to break off.
  6. 6. Make any necessary repairs as discussed at right.

Note: Always heed safety tips when using a ladder, avoiding uneven ground, and preferably with someone there to hold it steady.

REPAIRS FOR LEAKS

The next time it rains, check your roof for seepage signs, including leaks along the lines and water dripping from the back of the gutter—both problems that should be addressed right away. Consider replacing the gutter if there are a lot of leaks; otherwise, here’s your game plan:

  • For small holes in metal gutters, use a wire brush followed by steel wool to scrub the area, then patch holes with roofing cement or a special cement made for gutter repairs, applied with a putty knife.
  • For larger holes, use a piece of flashing—made of the same metal as your gutters—cut to size with shears. Press it firmly over the cement. Caulk can seal leaky joints.
  • If water dribbles (or worse, cascades) from back of gutter, the roof and gutter may not be aligned properly. Ask a roofer to install drip-edge flashing—a piece of metal, shaped like an upside-down L, that fits beneath the edge of the roofing and prevents water from running down back of gutter.
  • When the water has stopped flowing, check to see if any puddles remain inside the gutter. This indicates that the trough is not angled properly toward the downspout. Correct the alignment by adjusting the gutter brackets or have a roofer or gutter-repair service install new ones.