How long hangers last will depend on what gutter material they’re made from, but generally you can expect to get at least 10 to 15 years from them no matter what they’re made from. But don’t wait for them to break to give them a checkup. Inspect this part of your gutters on a yearly basis, and make repairs at the first sight of damage.

Any small amount of standing water can be damaging to your gutters. It’s recommended that a ¼ inch puddle or more should be addressed. Failure to keep water from pooling in your gutters can result in clogs, algae growth, and pests that damage your gutters over time. 

The trick to getting gleaming gutters can vary based on the material of your gutters. Aluminum gutters can often be restored to pristine condition by using a cloth to scrub them with a solution consisting of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. Vinyl gutters can be whitened using dish soap and water. For deeply stained vinyl gutters, adding bleach with water and dish soap may help to remove black streaks. Many retailers sell premixed gutter sprays. Applying cleaning solutions to dry gutters before rinsing can help cleaners attach to dirt and grime for easier removal.

Outside of regular maintenance, most gutter repairs are best left to the pros. Most gutter projects require basic ladder safety and (sometimes) getting on top of your roof. Without the proper equipment (or if you generally get a little nervous with heights), you could put yourself at risk of serious injury. On top of that, improperly repaired gutters could result in longer term damage that requires a full replacement.