DIY Fall and Winter Rain Gutter Maintenance Check List

Fall foliage may be pretty, but all those leaves can create a sizable mess in the rain gutters surrounding the roof of your home. Gutters that have been clogged with leaves and other debris tend to backwash on our houses where they can damage the roof, soffits, fascia, siding, and foundation.

To keep the gutters working properly in the rainy and wet weather ahead, regular gutter maintenance will help.

Use a ladder to inspect and clean out rain gutters. If you have a sturdy ladder and aren't afraid of heights, the easiest way to check the condition of your gutters is with your own eyes. A visual inspection is the only way to tell if gutters are clogged with leaves and other debris, which can impede the flow of rainwater off the roof. To clean out my rain gutters so they'll drain properly, I use a small garden trowel to scoop the leaves out of the gutter and onto the ground.

Flush the downspout with water. A regular garden hose can be used to flush out the downspout. Before starting however, try to clear out what you can around the base (a straightened clothes hanger works great). If the water flows freely, the spout is clear. If there still appears to be a clog somewhere in the spout, turn off the water and feed the hose down the spout until the debris breaks loose.

Warning: Lifting a heavy hose while standing on a ladder is dangerous. To prevent accidents, anchor the hose above the gutters before turning on the water.

Readjust the slope. Since the rain gutters in my home are open gutters, the slope can sometimes shift due to excess weight from roof particles, silt, or even ice. To test the slope, I run water in the rain gutter to see which way it flows. If the water isn't going where it should, the gutter is adjusted and repositioned. A quarter-inch slope for 10 feet of rain gutter is all that's required for the water to flow downhill to the spout.

Tighten loose brackets. Sometimes the brackets holding the gutter can wiggle loose which leads to sagging along the line. Since my rain gutters are held in place with hanging brackets, I just move the bracket sideways 1/2-inch and then reattach it with a new screw. Your brackets may need to be reattached differently.

Sweep off the roof. The final step in your fall rain gutter maintenance checklist is to clear off the roof of any remaining leaves, twigs, and branches. This simple task will prevent roof debris from falling back into the gutter the next time it rains.

More by this contributor:
Rooftop maintenance tasks for the DIY homeowner.
Winter cleaning tips that will brighten your home.
Where to install a fire extinguisher in your home.