Getting your gutters ready for winter

Why winter is the time gutters matter most

Gutters do their hardest work from November to February, when the rain is heaviest and the days are short and cold. If they're already full of leaves and moss, the water has nowhere to go but over the edge and down your walls.

In cold snaps, water sitting in a blocked gutter can freeze. Ice adds weight to brackets and joints, and when it thaws the meltwater spills over too.

1. Clear them once the leaves are down

The best time to clear your gutters is late autumn, usually November, once most of the leaves have fallen. Clear them too early and the last of the leaves fill them straight back up.

If you have trees close to the house, it can be worth a second clear in spring as well. Our guide on how often gutters should be cleaned goes into this in more detail.

2. Check the downpipes, not just the gutters

A clear gutter is no use if the downpipe is blocked. In the next heavy shower, look at each downpipe: water should be coming out of the bottom. If a downpipe stays dry while the gutter above it is overflowing, the outlet or the pipe is blocked.

3. Look for problems from the ground

You can spot most problems without going up a ladder:

• Plants, grass or moss growing out of the gutter.
• Water spilling over the front edge when it rains.
• Gutters sagging, or gaps opening up at the joints.
• Dark streaks or green stains on the walls under the gutter.
• Drips from joints or brackets after the rain has stopped.

4. Don't forget the small roofs

Porches, bay windows, garages, conservatories and single-storey extensions usually have their own short gutters. They're easy to overlook, but they block just as easily, often with leaves blown off the main roof.

5. Book before the rush

Late autumn is the busiest time of year for gutter clearing, so it pays to book early. With Your Gutter Care you can see your fixed price and book online in a few minutes. Gutter clearing starts from £74, and gutters, fascias and soffits from £148.

We clear every accessible gutter run from the ground using a high-powered vacuum on telescopic poles, check the downpipes are flowing, and send you before and after photos. If we spot anything that needs repairing, like a loose bracket or a leaking joint, we'll let you know. You can see what's included on our gutter clearing page.