5 Signs Your Gutters Need Cleaning Before Winter

Clogged eavestroughs are one of the most common causes of water damage to GTA homes, and one of the most preventable. When the water cannot get to the downspout it goes over the edge instead, onto the fascia, down the siding and into the ground next to your foundation. Here are the five signs to look for before the first freeze.

1. Water pouring over the edge in the rain

Next time it rains, look at the gutters from a window. A sheet of water coming over the front edge, or a steady stream at one corner, means the trough is blocked or the downspout is. That water lands right at the foundation, which is exactly where you do not want it.

2. Something is growing up there

Seeds land in the wet debris and sprout. If you can see green from the ground, the gutter has been full for at least a season. The roots hold moisture against the metal and the fascia board behind it.

3. Sagging, pulling away, or gaps at the seams

Wet leaves and sediment are heavy. A full trough pulls on the hangers, the gutter sags in the middle, and the joints open up. Once it sags, water pools in the low spot instead of draining, which makes the next clog faster.

4. Dark streaks on the siding below the gutter

Vertical stains on siding or brick under the gutter line mean water has been running over the edge for a while. On brick, the tell is white mineral deposits and dark algae in the same spot.

5. Ice dams and icicles last winter

Icicles along the roof edge are usually a sign that water was sitting in the gutter when it froze. A full gutter also holds ice against the fascia and shingles, which is how ice dams start. If you had them last year, clean the gutters before the snow this year.

What an AmberMount gutter cleaning includes

We remove all debris by hand and with gutter vacuums, flush the downspouts so water actually runs, and look for loose brackets, sagging sections and damaged seams while we are up there. You get a note about anything we find so small problems do not turn into a fascia replacement. All debris leaves with us.

Gutter cleaning is bookable online with a price based on the size of your home. Book before the end of November; once the temperature stays below zero, frozen debris cannot be cleared safely.