How to Tell If Your Gutters Are Clogged (Without Getting on a Ladder)
Clogged gutters are sneaky. You usually don’t notice them until there’s a problem, and by then, water might already be leaking into your siding or foundation.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to climb up on a ladder to check. We clean gutters all over Pierce, Mason, and Thurston Counties, and we always recommend looking for signs from the ground first.
Things to watch for:
- Water spilling over the edge when it rains
- Dark streaks or dirty marks under the gutters
- Plants (yes, actual plants) growing out of them
- Sagging or separated gutter sections
If you spot any of these, it’s time to clean them out. We’ve seen homes in Parkland and Edgewood with water pooling near the foundation because the gutters were packed with pine needles and roof grit.
What each sign is telling you
Water going over the front. The channel or the downspout is blocked, so the gutter fills up like a bathtub and spills. The best time to check is during a steady rain. Grab a jacket and walk the house once.
Streaks on the board behind the gutter. This one matters more than it looks. It means water is going over the back edge and running down the fascia, the wood board the gutter hangs on. Wood that stays wet rots.
Plants. Seeds need soil. If something is growing up there, enough needles and leaves have broken down to make some. That takes a while. Those gutters haven’t been cleaned in a long time.
Sagging. Wet debris is heavy. The hangers that hold the gutter are made to carry water that’s moving through, not a trough full of soaked needles. Once a section pulls away, water runs behind it.
Don’t forget the downspouts
A gutter can look fine from the ground and still be plugged where it meets the downspout. So during that same rain, look at the bottom of each one. Is water coming out? A trickle while it’s pouring means a clog, usually at the top elbow.
Then look at the ground. Washed-out mulch, a trench in the dirt, or a puddle against the house all mean roof water is landing in the wrong spot.
When to look
You also want to check after a storm or heavy wind, especially in tree-heavy areas like Montesano or Union.
One more thing about our trees. Maples drop their leaves once, in fall. Firs and pines drop needles all year. If your house sits under evergreens, one check in November won’t cover you. Look again in spring.
Professional gutter cleaning is safer, faster, and usually cheaper than water damage repairs. If you’re not sure, we’ll take a look and let you know what’s going on up there.
You stay on the ground. We’ll take care of the ladder.