How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters in Washington?
Short answer: at least once a year, and for most homes around Puyallup, Tacoma, and the rest of Pierce County, twice a year works best. How often your gutters need clearing depends mostly on what's growing over your roof.
The usual schedule: late fall and late spring
Late fall (after most leaves have dropped, usually November) is the most important cleaning. It clears the gutters right before the heaviest rain of the year.
Late spring (May or June) clears out the seed pods, catkins, pine needles, and cones that trees drop in spring, plus anything that built up over winter.
When you might need it more often
- Evergreens over the roof. Douglas fir, pine, and cedar shed needles all year. Needles pack down into a dense mat that blocks downspouts, so homes under big firs often need cleaning three or more times a year.
- Moss on the roof. Moss breaks loose in the rain and washes into the gutters, where it holds water and grows. If your roof has moss, your gutters will fill faster until the roof is treated.
- Gutter guards. Guards help, but they don't make gutters maintenance-free. Needles and grit collect on top of them and in the corners, so they still need to be checked and cleared.
Signs your gutters need attention now
- Water spilling over the edge during a normal rain instead of going down the downspout
- Plants, grass, or moss growing out of the gutter
- Gutters sagging or pulling away from the fascia board
- Dark streaks or water stains on siding below the gutter line
- Puddles or soggy soil along the foundation, or a downspout that barely drips while it's pouring
Why it matters so much here
Western Washington gets steady rain for months at a time. When gutters overflow, that water soaks the fascia boards and roof edge, runs down the siding, and collects next to the foundation, where it can find its way into crawl spaces and basements. Rotten fascia and water damage cost far more to fix than a gutter cleaning.
A note on doing it yourself
Plenty of homeowners clean their own single-story gutters. If you do, use a sturdy ladder on level ground, keep three points of contact, and never lean out past the ladder rails. For two-story homes, steep roofs, or wet conditions, it's safer to hire someone with the right equipment. That's what we're here for.
Want your gutters cleared before the rain sets in? We'll flush the downspouts too, and let you know if we spot any damage.