Seasonal gutter care

Fall is the important one. Clean after the last leaves are down, not partway through the drop, or you will pay twice. Confirm downspouts are clear before the first freeze — a downspout packed with wet leaves that then freezes is how gutters get torn off.

Winter. Do not climb up. Do not chip ice out of a gutter; you will damage the metal and possibly the roof edge. If you get ice building at the eave, note where it forms and address the cause in warmer weather. Ice dams come from heat escaping into the attic melting roof snow that refreezes at the cold overhang, so the fix is insulation and ventilation work, not gutters.

Spring. Clean out the winter debris and seed pods, then watch the system in the first heavy spring rain. This is the best time of year to see exactly where the system fails.

Summer. This is the repair season. Re-pitch sagging runs, replace failed hangers, add downspouts, fix fascia, and extend discharge away from the foundation. Doing this work in July is cheaper and safer than doing it in an emergency in November.

How to choose

Clean after the drop, not during

One well-timed fall cleaning beats two poorly timed ones.

Clear downspouts before the freeze

A blocked downspout that freezes solid is the most common winter gutter failure.

No ladders on ice

Winter gutter work is not worth the fall risk. Wait.

Watch the first spring storm

Ten minutes outside in the rain tells you more than any inspection report.

Do repairs in summer

Dry weather, easy scheduling, and contractors are less booked than they are in November.

Treat ice as an attic issue

If ice dams recur, get insulation and ventilation assessed. New gutters will not fix it.