Quick answer: Most homes need gutter cleaning twice a year—once in early spring and once in late fall. The sections below explain why this rule of thumb sometimes needs adjusting.
Factors That Affect Cleaning Frequency
Gutter-cleaning needs depend on three main variables:
- Tree coverage: More (or taller) trees mean more leaves and twigs.
- Tree species: Live oaks, maples, and sweetgums drop at different times and in different quantities.
- Roofline proximity: Branches that overhang the roof shed debris directly into your gutters.
For heavily treed lots, cleaning every 3–4 months is often more realistic.
Why It Matters in Florida
Florida’s frequent high winds and heavy rain quickly wash debris into downspouts. Before hurricane season (June – November), confirm your gutters and downspouts are clear so they can handle downpours. Even a handful of leaves can quickly plug a downspout opening.
Spring Cleaning
Spring brings warm temperatures, storms, and leaf-drop from live oaks preparing for new growth. Clearing gutters now protects your roof and fascia while you gear up for summer thunderstorms and potential hurricanes.
Fall Cleaning
Fall is prime cleanup time even in mild-season Florida:
- Rainy season is ending, so gutters may already have accumulated significant debris.
- Trees such as Florida maple, sweetgum, and crepe myrtle shed leaves as they go dormant.
- Clogged gutters overflow, staining fascia, siding, and gutters—and can even undermine foundations.
Shingle Roofs & Grit Buildup
Asphalt shingles lose granules (“grit”), especially during the first year after installation. Grit collects in gutter bottoms, trapping moisture, slowing water flow, accelerating corrosion, and adding weight. Combine grit with organic debris and overflow becomes inevitable.
How We Help
Free inspections – Call us, and an estimator will visit, inspect the interior of your gutters with a mirror-on-a-pole (no ladder needed), and show you exactly what we see.
Leaf guard solutions – Ask your estimator about Bulldog or Atlas gutter covers. Installed once, they drastically reduce or eliminate interior cleaning and stop downspout blockages.
Schedule Your Free Inspection Today
