Cleaning your gutters in autumn: when, how and what does it cost?

Clean your gutters at least once a year, ideally at the end of October or in November, when most of the leaves have fallen and before the frost sets in. If there are a lot of trees around your house, twice a year is sensible. You can empty a low gutter yourself; for high gutters it is better to hire a professional.

In this article you can read when and how often to clean the gutters, how to do it step by step and safely, how to spot a leaking or blocked gutter, what it costs to have it done and who has to do it if you rent.

When should you clean the gutters?

The best moment is at the end of autumn, when the leaves are off the trees and before the first real frost. Univé advises cleaning the gutter at least once a year, preferably at the end of autumn and before it starts to freeze. If you live in a street with a lot of trees, Univé recommends twice a year.

Why before the frost? Water that stands in a blocked gutter can freeze and damage the gutter or the downpipe. In Flevoland, the number of frost nights only really goes up in December. Over 1991 to 2020, the Lelystad weather station of the KNMI (the Dutch national weather service) counted an average of 1.2 frost nights in October, 4.7 in November and 11.2 in December (KNMI climate table Lelystad). So if you empty the gutters in November, you are usually in time.

A second round in spring is handy if there are trees with seeds or blossom nearby, or if you were too early in autumn and a lot of leaves fell afterwards. If you have the gutter cleaned, combine it with a check of the gutter, the roof edge and the tiles. On our page about roofing and gutters you can read which roofing work we do.

How do I clean my gutters myself?

With a sturdy ladder, gloves, a bucket and a garden hose, you can clean a low gutter yourself. Work in small sections and keep moving the ladder, instead of reaching far to the side.

What you need:

• a sturdy ladder that is tall enough, with a ladder mat or ladder stopper;
• work gloves;
• a bucket with a hook, or a strong rubbish bag;
• a gutter scoop or a small plastic trowel;
• a garden hose with a spray nozzle;
• if you like, a telescopic pole with a gutter cleaner, which lets you clean a low gutter from the ground.

This is how to go about it:

1. Choose a dry, still day. Leaves that are still a bit damp are easier to remove in one go than dust and dry remains.
2. Set the ladder up safely (see the tips below) and start at the end of the gutter furthest from the downpipe.
3. Take leaves and dirt out of the gutter by hand or with the scoop and put them straight into the bucket or bag. Do not throw them into the garden next to the wall.
4. Clear the outlet to the downpipe. That is where most of the dirt collects.
5. Rinse the gutter with the garden hose, towards the downpipe. If dirt stays stuck, scrub it loose and rinse again.
6. Check that the water drains away properly. Does the gutter empty and does water come out of the bottom of the downpipe or into the drain? Then the drain is clear.
7. Fit a leaf guard or leaf basket on the outlet to the downpipe. Univé mentions this as a way to keep leaves out of the downpipe.

Working safely on the ladder

Most of the risks of cleaning the gutter are in the ladder, not in the gutter. The Dutch website Max Vandaag lists the most important tips for working safely on a ladder:

• set the ladder at an angle of about 75 degrees;
• let the ladder stick out at least 1 metre above the roof edge;
• do not put the ladder on grass or sand without a firm base;
• never stand on the top 3 rungs and always keep 3 points of contact with the ladder;
• do not work in wet weather or strong wind;
• for work above 7.5 metres, a scaffold is better.

Never lean your weight against the gutter itself. A gutter is not made to carry a ladder or a person and can come loose.

Do it yourself or hire a professional?

You can easily clean the gutter of a low-rise house or bungalow yourself if you can reach it well from a sturdy ladder. Is the gutter higher than you can safely reach with an ordinary ladder, is there a conservatory or extension underneath, or do you not feel sure of yourself on a ladder? Then have it done.

Also choose a professional if you see damage while cleaning: a loose or crooked gutter, leaking joints or a downpipe that stays blocked. Then it is more than cleaning and you want the cause to be repaired.

How do you spot a blocked or leaking gutter?

You see a blocked gutter mainly during a rain shower: the water runs over the edge instead of away through the downpipe. You recognise a leaking gutter by drips or streaks in places where no water should be.

Look out for these signs:

• water pouring over the edge of the gutter during a heavy shower;
• water standing in the gutter long after it has stopped raining;
• a sagging gutter: the weight of standing water and wet leaves can make the gutter drop;
• drips at a joint, where two pieces of gutter meet, or at a corner;
• a leak at the downpipe, where the gutter outlet connects to the pipe;
• green deposits, streaks or damp patches on the wall below the gutter;
• plants or moss growing in the gutter;
• puddles or washed-out soil along the wall.

According to Univé, an overflowing gutter can cause damage to the wall or the roof. Do you see a damp patch indoors above a window or on the upper floor? Then also read our article on recognising a roof leak.

What if the downpipe stays blocked?

If water stays in the gutter while the gutter itself is empty, the blockage is probably in the downpipe. Sometimes you can clear it by flushing water through from the top. If the blockage is lower down, underground, professional drain unblocking is often the quickest solution. Do not try to push a hard stick or wire through a plastic downpipe: you can damage the pipe or the joint.

What does it cost to have your gutters cleaned?

According to the Dutch review platform Werkspot, cleaning the gutters of a single-family house costs €100 to €525 on average. For an easily reached gutter, Werkspot gives €3 to €5 per metre run. According to the same page, a gutter of 10 metres at a height of up to 6 metres costs €100 to €150; for 30 metres it is €300 to €450.

The price depends mainly on:

• the total length of the gutters;
• the height and how easy they are to reach, and whether a scaffold or cherry picker is needed;
• how dirty the gutter is and how long it has gone without cleaning;
• extra work, such as fitting a leaf guard or repairing a leaking joint.

Klusbedrijf MSZ works with an hourly rate and not with fixed package prices. The first hour on site costs €181.44 incl. VAT (€149.95 excl. VAT), then €108.84 incl. VAT (€89.95 excl. VAT) per hour. So it is smart to combine the cleaning with a check of the gutter, the roof edge and the roof tiles in the same visit.

Should the tenant or the landlord clean the gutters?

Cleaning a gutter that can be reached is a job for the tenant. That is set out in the Besluit kleine herstellingen (the Dutch decree on minor repairs): the tenant cleans the gutter as far as it can be reached. For a gutter you cannot reach safely, and for repairs to a leaking or loose gutter, you arrange things with your landlord or housing association. Also check your tenancy agreement to see whether the housing association arranges the cleaning through a service package.

How do you prevent a blocked gutter?

With a leaf guard, pruning in good time and a fixed cleaning round each year, you prevent most problems.

1. Fit a leaf guard or leaf basket on every outlet to the downpipe.
2. Prune branches that hang over the roof or the gutter.
3. Clean the gutter every year at the end of October or in November, and in spring if there are a lot of trees.
4. After every storm, check from the ground that the gutter is still hanging straight.
5. Have leaking joints and loose brackets repaired straight away, before damage to the wall develops.

After a heavy storm, it pays to look at the roof tiles straight away too. Our article on roof tiles shifted by a storm explains what to look out for.

Getting an unsolicited offer at the door?

Be careful with people who ring the bell and say your gutter or roof needs cleaning or repairing straight away. Always ask for a clear price, the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number and an invoice in advance, and do not let yourself be pressured into paying cash on the spot.

When should you call a professional?

Call a professional if the gutter is out of safe reach, or if you see while cleaning that more is going on:

• the gutter hangs crooked, sags or is loose;
• water leaks at a joint, a corner or the connection to the downpipe;
• the downpipe stays blocked, even after flushing;
• there are damp patches on the outside wall or indoors, below the gutter;
• the gutter is above a conservatory, extension or carport that you cannot safely get to.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my gutters?

At least once a year, ideally at the end of autumn. If there are a lot of trees around your house, twice a year is sensible: in autumn and in spring.

What is the best month to clean the gutters?

The end of October or November, when most of the leaves have fallen. According to the KNMI, the number of frost nights in Lelystad only really goes up in December, so you are usually in time for the frost.

Can I clean the gutters without a ladder?

For a low gutter, you can do it from the ground with a telescopic pole and a gutter cleaner. For a higher gutter or a gutter with a lot of dirt, that is usually not enough and you need a ladder or a professional.

What does it cost to have the gutters cleaned?

Werkspot gives an average of €100 to €525 for a single-family house, or €3 to €5 per metre for an easily reached gutter. The height, the length and any extra work decide the final price.

What happens if I never clean the gutters?

Then the gutter gets blocked and rainwater runs over the edge down the wall. That can cause damp patches, damage to the wall or the roof and a sagging gutter. In frost, standing water can damage the gutter or downpipe.

As a tenant, do I have to clean the gutters?

Yes, as far as the gutter can be reached. That is set out in the Besluit kleine herstellingen. If the gutter cannot be reached safely or needs repairing, contact your landlord.

Gutters cleaned or repaired in Almere?

Klusbedrijf MSZ is a family business from Almere and available 24/7. We can clean and check your gutters, and also repair a leaking joint, a loose gutter or a blocked downpipe, in Almere, Lelystad and the surrounding area. You can read more about our work on roofs and gutters on the roofing page.

The first hour on site costs €181.44 incl. VAT (€149.95 excl. VAT), then €108.84 incl. VAT (€89.95 excl. VAT) per hour. In Almere we charge no call-out charge; elsewhere in our service area there is a fixed amount of €42.35 incl. VAT (€35 excl. VAT). See our prices or ask for a free quote. Call or WhatsApp 06 19 74 36 78 and feel free to send a photo of the gutter via WhatsApp.