How (and Why) to Clean Your Gutters Before the Fall Leaves Drop
Your gutters are about to earn their keep. Here in Kansas City, our oak and maple trees dump a serious load of leaves every fall — and a clogged gutter isn't just ugly. It's the starting point for some of the most expensive damage a house can take.
What happens when gutters clog
A gutter's only job is to catch roof runoff and carry it away from your house. When leaves, twigs, and shingle grit pack it solid, water has nowhere to go but over the edge — straight down next to your foundation.
That overflow causes three problems we see constantly:
Foundation damage. Water pooling against the foundation seeps into basements and crawl spaces, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles crack foundation walls. This is the big one — foundation repairs run into the thousands.
Rotted fascia and soffit. Standing water in the gutter soaks the wooden fascia boards behind it. Once they rot, the gutter starts pulling away from the house.
Landscape washout and siding stains. Water sheeting off the roof edge carves trenches in mulch beds and streaks siding.
How to clean them right
You can do this yourself twice a year — late fall after the leaves drop, and spring. Here's the process:
Ladder safety first. Sturdy extension ladder on level ground, three points of contact, and never reach more than an arm's length to either side. If your roof is steep or two stories, this is a good time to call a pro.
Scoop the debris. Gloves, a plastic gutter scoop (or an old spatula), and a bucket. Work toward the downspout.
Flush with a hose. Run water through the gutter toward the downspout. If water backs up, the downspout is clogged — a plumber's snake or a blast from the hose (from the bottom up) usually clears it.
Check the slope. Gutters should drop about a quarter inch every 10 feet toward the downspout. Standing water between cleanings means the slope is off or a hanger has failed.
Extend your downspouts. This is the step everyone skips. Downspouts should carry water at least 4–6 feet away from the foundation. A $10 splash block or extension does more for your foundation than almost anything else.
Tired of cleaning them?
Premium gutter guards keep the oak and maple debris out while letting water through — no more twice-a-year ladder duty. We install guards sized for KC's leaf load, and we're happy to tell you honestly whether your roofline is a good candidate.
The free version
Not sure what shape your gutters — or your roof — are in? Our free 8-point inspection covers gutters, roof, flashing, and attic ventilation, and we'll show you photos of everything we find. No pressure, no obligation.
Call or text 816-337-7037 — RT Construction, Kansas City's roofing contractor since 1999.
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