The gutters and downspouts are the exterior of a homes drainage system. Unfortunately, most people never give them a thought until they have serious water problems and damage caused by sticks – leaves – dirt - bird waste and other debris.

Proper cleaning and maintenance could prevent the gutters from coming apart - pulling down - or sagging and prevent water damage to the interior of your home from water seepage, roof leaks, or a flooded foundation.

The best time to clean your gutters is towards the end of spring and again in late autumn when all the leaves have fallen.

If you live in a very rainy climate or heavily treed area, it may be necessary to check and clean them more often.

Some homeowners may choose to hire a gutter contractor who will clean the gutters quickly, efficiently, and affordably.

For homeowners that are handy and are physically able to do their own maintenance - they should be sure to have the right tools available such as an extension ladder, gutter scoop or narrow garden trowel, safety glasses, work gloves and garden hose.

It is best to have someone help to hold the ladder and pass up the hose or other tools if necessary.

Make sure the ladder is sitting on level ground and leaning against the house, not against the gutter or downspout as they are not sturdy enough and could break or bend.

Wearing work gloves and safety glasses, start cleaning the gutter near the corner of the house working away from the downspout.

Use the gutter scoop, garden trowel or your gloves and start removing the debris, placing it in a bucket attached to the ladder or dropping it to the ground and cleaning up when finished.

It may be necessary to wet any solidified debris and let it soak for a few minutes so it is easier to remove from the gutter.

Use the garden hose with a spray attachment to rinse the channel once you have removed all the debris, spraying in the direction of the downspout. Not only does this remove the remaining sediment but also lets you know if the downspout is open or blocked.

For a plugged downspout, there are a few options available such as spraying water full-force from the hose directly into the downspout to clear it and force any blockages loose.

For stubborn clogs, use a plumber’s snake and carefully snake it into the downspout until you hit the clog.

Continue pushing, pulling, twisting the snake until the clog breaks up, and then spray water into the downspout again to make sure it is completely open.

Once the gutters and downspouts are clean, inspect them for any signs of cracks, holes, or other damage.