Things You'll Need:
- Ladder
- Work Gloves
- Plumbing Snake
- Leaf Strainers
- Gutter Guards
- Gutter Maintenance Hardware
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Step 1
Climb a ladder until you can see into and easily reach into the gutters, and then remove leaves and any other debris. Wear work gloves to protect your hands. Do this at least once in the spring and once in the fall, and more regularly if you have evergreen trees shedding needles all year. You also may need to clean the gutters out after storms. The main reason gutters overflow is because the organic material creates dams and prevents rainwater from reaching the drainpipes.
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Step 2
Clean out any drainpipes that have become clogged. This may require a plumbing snake (auger).
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Step 3
Install leaf strainers where the drainpipes meet the gutters to prevent future drainpipe clogging. These are inexpensive and can be purchased at hardware stores.
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Step 4
Re-pitch the gutters if they are sagging and causing water to overflow, or have a handyman do the job. Reinforce the gutters with spikes and ferrules, screws, hangers or brackets.
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Step 5
Install gutter guards to prevent leaves and other organic debris from falling into the gutters and accumulating, or have a handyman or home improvement contractor install them. This is a good option if you have difficulty with the physical aspects of the gutter maintenance or if you simply can't keep up with it regularly.
