Spring gutter cleaning: a Georgia homeowner's guide
When the dogwoods bloom across Gwinnett, Fulton and Cobb, your gutters are filling with pollen, tassels and last winter's leaves. Here's what to check before storm season.
Many homeowners think the danger passes once fall leaves are gone. Spring brings its own trouble: pollen, seeds and oak tassels mix with compacted winter debris into a thick sludge that's harder to clear than dry leaves. Then the spring storms arrive.
What spring clogs cause
- Overflow in heavy rain. Spring storms can drop inches of rain quickly. Blocked gutters send it under shingles and into soffits.
- Pests. Damp, rotting debris draws mosquitoes, ants and other insects.
- Strain on underground pipes. Overflow saturates the soil around buried downspout lines, and debris that washes in can block them.
Your spring checklist
Clear the winter leftovers
Remove the wet, packed debris that rain and freezes have pressed into the gutter.
Look for sagging
Heavy winter debris pulls gutters away from the fascia. Hangers should be tight and the slope should carry water to the downspouts.
Flush the downspouts
Water should run all the way through and exit at least five feet from your foundation.
Check buried drains
If downspouts go underground, make sure water comes out the far end. Silt and debris settle there over winter.
Look at the roof
Winter storms loosen shingles and crack vent boots. Small problems found in spring don't become leaks in summer.
Why spring is the time to find repairs
Catching a small leak in April prevents a foundation problem in June. Every Gutter Goat cleaning includes a full roof and gutter inspection with photos, and many small repairs are done on the same visit. See repair prices.
Want it done for you? Gutter cleaning starts at $125, with a full inspection and photos.
DIY or hire it out?
Spring ground is soft, which makes ladders less stable. A professional crew also brings the tools to clear stubborn sludge and buried drains, and an eye for the damage a garden hose won't show you. Our team has 50 years of combined experience.
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