Get matched with top gutter cleaning pros in your area

Absolutely—and lots of it. Overflowing water from your gutters can damage your siding and your roof. All of the moisture getting into the cracks and crevices of your home can lead to mold or mildew problems down the line. In addition, when water pools around your home, it needs a place to go—and sometimes it ends up inside the house, creating a very unwanted flood.

Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, to remove the debris from trees that can clog the eavestroughs and downspouts. Debris like leaves, twigs, and seed pods can build up and cause your gutters to overflow, potentially causing damage to your roof and foundation. Water backing up under the shingles can rot the edge of your roofline. Overflow water falling next to your foundation can end up leaking into your basement or crawl space.

The standard size for residential gutters is 5 inches. Some houses opt for 6-inch gutters to stand against heavy rain since they can hold significantly more water. Five-inch gutters are 3.5 inches deep, and 6-inch gutters are 3.75 inches deep. If you have an all-tile or all-metal roof, you’ll need at least 6-inch-wide gutters.

If you want to replace your home's existing underground downspout, you have options. One is to connect a rain barrel to the downspout. During a storm, water travels from the downspout into the barrel. You can then use the water to irrigate your garden or lawn. 

Another option is to install a downspout extension above ground. The extension will direct water away from your home, but potentially not as far away as an underground system.