Gutters are the most ignored part of a house right up until they cause an expensive problem. They quietly do one of the most important jobs in the building, carrying rainwater away from your walls and foundations. In a wet part of the country like Devon, they're under constant pressure. The trouble is, you usually don't notice a blocked gutter until water is already running down a wall or seeping inside. Here's how to stay ahead of it.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
As a minimum, gutters should be cleaned twice a year, typically in spring and again in autumn. Autumn is the big one, clearing falling leaves before winter; spring clears the moss, grit and debris that build up over the colder months.
If your home is surrounded by trees, twice a year won't be enough. Leaves and twigs can clog gutters within weeks, so quarterly cleaning is a safer bet. And even homes with no trees nearby still need regular clearing, because moss and roof grit wash down into the gutters over time regardless.
The warning signs of a blocked gutter
You don't always need to get up a ladder to spot trouble. Watch for:
- Water spilling over the edge of the gutter during rain, the clearest sign of a blockage.
- Plants or grass growing out of the gutter, a sure sign of trapped debris and soil.
- Sagging gutters pulling away from the roofline under the weight of debris and standing water.
- Watermarks or green staining running down the wall beneath the gutter.
- Damp patches inside on upstairs walls or ceilings near the roofline.
- Birds, insects or pests taking an interest in your guttering.
If you spot any of these, don't wait for the next scheduled clean. Deal with it straight away.
Why blocked gutters are more than a nuisance
A blocked gutter doesn't stay a small problem for long. When water can't drain, it overflows and finds another way down, and that way is usually your walls. Here's the chain of damage we're regularly called out to fix:
- Damp walls inside the home. Overflowing water runs down or behind the wall, causing damp patches that get blamed on "rising damp" when the real culprit is the gutter.
- Rotten fascias and roof timbers. Water forced under roof tiles and against timber leads to rot and far more expensive repairs.
- Sagging and detached guttering. The added weight pulls the whole run away from the house.
- Foundation and ground damage. Water pooling at the base of the wall can weaken the ground over time.
A gutter clean costs a fraction of fixing any one of these. It's genuinely one of the best-value maintenance jobs you can do for your home.
Should you clean your gutters yourself?
For a single-storey extension with safe, easy access, a careful DIY clean is reasonable. Clear the debris, flush the gutters and downpipes with water, and check everything drains freely. But be honest about the risks. Working at height off a ladder is how a lot of home accidents happen, and on a two-storey Devon home the safe option is to let someone with the right equipment do it. It's also a chance for a trained eye to spot a cracked joint, a loose bracket or an early leak before it becomes a damp problem indoors.
A simple gutter-care routine
- [ ] Clear gutters in autumn (after the leaves have dropped)
- [ ] Clear and check again in spring
- [ ] Check after any major storm
- [ ] Flush downpipes to confirm they drain freely
- [ ] Look for sagging, leaks or staining from the ground each season
Book a gutter clean in Exeter
Devon Home Maintenance offers gutter cleaning across Exeter and the surrounding area as part of our outdoor and external services. We do it safely and thoroughly, and check for any early signs of damage while we're up there. Far cheaper than fixing the damp it prevents.
Want your gutters sorted before the next downpour? Call 07391092619 or message us through the website for a quote. We're available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.