Gutter Cleaning – How and How Often Should It Be Done?

Gutters, or eaves troughs and downspouts, are an essential part of your home, especially when it comes to maintenance. Regular gutter cleaning keeps the rainwater system functioning properly: the system’s purpose is to direct rainwater and meltwater from the roof away from the walls and foundation in a controlled manner. How is gutter cleaning done?

A poorly maintained or incorrectly installed rainwater system can, at worst, even cause moisture damage to your home. When gutter cleaning and condition are taken care of, water flows where it should instead of running uncontrollably down walls or fascia boards.

Just having gutters that are technically sound is not enough. They also need to be maintained regularly. Our maintenance recommendation is that downspouts and eaves troughs be cleaned at least once a year of leaves, needles, and other plant debris and litter. This allows water to flow freely through them. If the gutters fill up with debris, they can overflow, and in winter, freezing water can damage the downspouts.

How is gutter cleaning done?

Gutter cleaning requires proper tools, as gutters are located high up. Usually in a detached house they can be cleaned from a ladder, or more easily and safely from the ground using an extension pole tool designed for this purpose. Such tools are available at most hardware stores.

Cleaning eaves troughs with an extension pole tool is only possible if the gutters are equipped with external brackets. In some cases, safely cleaning eaves troughs requires scaffolding or a lift. Always remember to use safety harnesses when working on a roof or in a lift.

The most important thing in gutter cleaning is to remove all moss, needles, leaves, and other debris from the gutters. Finally, it’s worth rinsing the gutters with a garden hose or pressure washer at moderate pressure. The outside of the gutters can be cleaned either by wiping with a cloth or with a soft brush. When choosing a cleaning agent, keep in mind that some strong cleaners may damage the paint finish on the gutters.

Whenever cleaning eaves troughs, it’s also worth checking their condition at the same time. If there are scratches in the gutters that expose bare metal, these scratches should be touched up with paint designed for this purpose. It’s also good to check that the gutter fastenings are in good condition, the gutters don’t leak, and water flows in the right direction in the gutters.

What should I do if I notice the gutters are faulty?

Even good gutters don’t last forever. The lifespan of gutters varies greatly. Sometimes they can last as long as 50–60 years, but other times gutters reach the end of their life quite early. This may be due to ice and snow loads falling from the roof or some other external damage. Some gutters also withstand mechanical stress better than others. In some cases, for example, installing snow guards can extend the lifespan of gutters.

Väriset Oy no longer installs rainwater systems or roof safety products. We’re still happy to serve you with exterior cladding painting as well as tile roof coating and cleaning.