Why Clean Gutters Protect Your Whole Home

Gutters are the least glamorous part of your house and one of the most important. Their entire job is to move water away from where it can do harm. When they clog, the damage spreads far beyond the roofline.

What clogged gutters actually cause

• Foundation damage as water pools and pressures the footing.
• Basement flooding from saturated soil against the walls.
• Rotted fascia and soffits behind the overflowing channel.
• Ice dams in winter that pry up shingles.

The cheapest insurance you can buy

A couple of cleanings a year — or a one-time guard install — costs a fraction of repairing a single one of the problems above.

A simple seasonal routine

Clear gutters in late spring and again in late fall, after the leaves drop. Flush them with a hose to confirm the downspouts run freely, and make sure water is discharging several feet away from the foundation.

When to consider guards

If you have tall trees, a steep roof, or simply do not want to be on a ladder, quality gutter guards dramatically cut how often you need to climb up — and keep the system flowing through the worst storms.