7 Signs Your Gutters Need Cleaning Right Now

Gutters are easy to forget until water is running down the side of your house. These are the signs we see most often on South Bay homes right before something expensive happens.

The Warning Signs

• Water spilling over the front edge during rain instead of draining to the downspout
• Plants or grass growing out of the gutter, a sure sign of packed soil-like debris
• Sagging or pulling away from the fascia under the weight of wet debris
• Dark vertical staining on siding below the gutter line
• Pooling water or eroded soil along the foundation
• Birds, wasps, or rodents nesting along the roofline
• Peeling paint or soft, spongy fascia board

What It Costs to Ignore

Fascia replacement runs well into the thousands. Foundation repair costs more. Interior water intrusion means drywall, flooring, and potentially mold remediation. A routine cleaning is a fraction of any of those numbers and takes a couple of hours.

Timing in the South Bay

Clean once in late fall after the leaf drop finishes and once in late spring after the blossoms and seed pods come down. If you're under redwoods or pines, add a mid-season visit. Getting on the calendar before the first storm is always cheaper than calling during one.