Fall gutter cleaning checklist for Western NC homes

In Caldwell, Burke, and Catawba Counties, fall leaf season is one of the busiest times for gutter problems. Leaves do not have to completely fill a gutter to cause trouble. A small pile of debris near an outlet can make water back up, spill over, run behind the gutter, or dump beside the foundation.

Before leaf season gets heavy

• Look for leaves collecting near roof valleys and inside corners.
• Check whether water stains are showing on fascia or siding below the gutter.
• Make sure downspouts are open and moving water away from the house.
• Watch for gutter sections that look low, loose, bowed, or pulled away.
• Check lower roofs, porch gutters, and areas under heavy trees first.

After a hard rain

Walk around the home while it is safe to do so and look for overflow. Overflow near the middle of a run can point to clogs or undersized gutters. Overflow near one end may point to bad pitch, a stopped outlet, or a downspout that is too small for the roof area.

When cleaning may not be enough

If the gutter is loose, crushed, leaking at multiple seams, tilted the wrong way, or mounted to damaged fascia, cleaning alone may only be a short-term fix. That is when a repair or replacement estimate may make more sense.