How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned in Ontario?

Our recommendation: twice a year

For most homes in Haldimand County and across Southern Ontario, we recommend cleaning your gutters twice a year: once in late spring and once in late fall.

The late spring cleaning clears out the seeds, blossoms and buds that trees drop as they come back to life, along with anything left over from winter. The late fall cleaning takes care of the leaves that come down in October and November, so your eavestroughs are clear before the snow and ice arrive. Timing the fall visit after most of the leaves have dropped means you get the most out of it.

More trees mean more frequent cleaning

Twice a year is a good starting point, but your property makes a big difference. If your home sits under mature maples, oaks or pines, or backs onto a wooded lot, your gutters will fill faster. Pine needles in particular can mat together and form a dense layer that holds water.

If you notice your gutters filling up well before the next scheduled cleaning, it's a sign your home may benefit from an extra visit during the year. On the other hand, a newer home with few trees nearby may stay fairly clear between cleanings.

Signs your gutters need attention

You don't need to climb a ladder to spot most gutter problems. Here are a few things to look for from the ground:

Water overflowing the edge of the gutter during a rainstorm instead of running down the downspouts. Gutters that look like they're sagging or pulling away from the house, which can happen when they're weighed down with wet debris. Plants, grass or small seedlings growing out of the eavestroughs. Water pooling near your foundation, or soil being washed away below the roofline.

If you see any of these, it's a good time to have your gutters cleaned and checked. Our gutter cleaning service is built to deal with exactly these issues.

Why clogged gutters cause problems

Gutters have one job: to catch rain coming off your roof and carry it away from your home through the downspouts. When they're blocked, that water has nowhere to go. It spills over the edge and lands right beside your house, often in the same spot every time it rains.

Over time, water collecting around the base of your home can lead to problems that are much more of a headache than a simple cleaning. Overflow can also splash dirt onto siding and leave stains on the outside of your gutters.

Heading into an Ontario winter

Fall cleaning is especially important here. Ontario winters bring snow, ice and plenty of freeze-thaw cycles. If your gutters are full of wet leaves when the temperature drops, that material can freeze in place, and melting snow from the roof has nowhere to drain.

Clearing your eavestroughs before winter gives meltwater a clear path to the downspouts, which is one of the simplest ways to prepare your home for the cold months.

Is it safe to clean gutters yourself?

Plenty of homeowners clean their own gutters, especially on a single-storey home. If you do, use a sturdy ladder on firm, level ground, have someone nearby, and never lean out past the sides of the ladder. Avoid working in wet, windy or icy conditions.

For two-storey homes, steep rooflines, or anyone who would rather stay off the ladder altogether, hiring a professional is usually the simpler and safer choice. It also means someone is checking your downspouts and water flow while they're up there.

What our gutter cleaning includes

When Altitude cleans your gutters, we take care of more than just the inside. Every visit includes:

Removal of leaves and debris from the inside of your eavestroughs. Cleaning of the exterior gutter face, so the outside of your gutters looks clean from the street. Downspout and water-flow checks, so you know the whole system is draining properly. We're fully insured, and we leave the area tidy when we're done.

You can see real before and after photos on our gutter cleaning page.

Book your next gutter cleaning

Whether it's time for your spring cleaning or you want your gutters ready for winter, we're happy to help. Request a free quote below and we typically respond within one business day.