How often should gutters be cleaned?

Most homes need gutter cleaning twice a year — once in late spring after seeds and blossoms drop, and once in late fall after the leaves come down. Homes with heavy tree cover or many evergreens often need a third cleaning. Gutter guards reduce this to occasional rinsing.

Twice a year is the baseline for the Mid-Atlantic: spring clears the maple seeds, blossoms, and pollen that wash off the roof, and fall clears the leaf drop that, if left, freezes into winter clogs. If your home sits under oaks, pines, or sweetgums, plan on a third visit because those trees shed for a longer window. The late-fall cleaning is the most important one — gutters that go into winter clogged are the ones that overflow, back up under shingles, and form ice dams. If you're tired of the schedule, gutter guards keep debris out and cut cleanings down to the occasional rinse.