Gutters before hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. Summer storms push a lot of water through gutters in a short time. When a gutter or downspout is blocked, the water spills over the edge instead and can soak the fascia boards, stain the walls and collect next to the foundation.
Reviewed by Mario Fernandez, founder of TinyLuster. Updated .
Before June
- Have the gutters cleaned and the downspouts flushed with water before the season starts.
- Check that each downspout carries the water away from the house.
- Look for loose hangers, sagging runs and leaking seams, and get them fixed.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof, so fewer leaves land in the gutters.
During the season
- After a big storm, look for new debris in the gutters and on the roof edge.
- Watch where the water goes during heavy rain: overflowing gutters mean a blockage.
When to schedule the cleaning
In Tampa, live oaks drop most of their leaves in late winter and spring, and pine needles and Spanish moss keep coming the rest of the year. A gutter that looks fine in May can spill over the fascia by July, so plan the cleaning for late spring, after the oak leaves fall and before the summer storms. Gutters under oaks and pines fill up faster than gutters with no trees nearby, so ask for a schedule after the first cleaning.
What a professional cleaning includes
- Loose leaves cleared off the roof edge.
- Gutters emptied, and the debris bagged and hauled away.
- Every downspout flushed with water.
- The outside of the gutters washed.
- Minor repairs: re-securing loose hangers, adjusting a sagging run, sealing a leaking seam or reconnecting a downspout. Bigger repairs are quoted before the work starts.
See how we work on our gutter cleaning page. If your gutters fill up again soon after a cleaning, ask about gutter guards.
Stay safe
Ladder work is risky. If you are not comfortable on a ladder or the house has two or three stories, call a professional.
See the service: Gutter cleaning in Tampa Bay.
Source: National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology
Need a hand? TinyLuster gives free estimates across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Call (813) 364-2973 or request an estimate online.
