When to Book Fall Gutter Cleaning in Northern Colorado
The best time for fall gutter cleaning in Northern Colorado is after most of the leaves have come down. In a typical year that lands in late October or November. In a warm fall, the leaves hang on longer and the best time moves later too.
Why fall gutter cleaning matters in Northern Colorado
Gutters carry water from the roof to the downspouts and away from your foundation. When they're packed with leaves, pine needles and seed pods, that water spills over the edge or sits in the trough.
On a sunny winter afternoon, snow on the roof melts and runs into the gutter. If the gutter is clogged, the water stays there and freezes overnight. After a few weeks of melting and refreezing, the ice gets heavy enough to pull on the gutter fasteners, and it can work its way under the shingles at the edge of the roof.
When to book fall gutter cleaning
Wait until most of the trees around your house have dropped their leaves. A cleaning while the trees are still full often has to be repeated a few weeks later, once the rest of the leaves come down.
The easiest way to tell is to look at the trees closest to your roofline. When their branches are mostly bare, it's a good time to book.
Most homeowners schedule gutter cleaning twice a year: once in the fall after the leaves drop, and once in the spring before cottonwood season. Our [Fall Home Checklist for Northern Colorado] covers the other jobs worth doing around the house this time of year.
After most of the leaves are down
That's usually late October or November, and later in a warm fall. One cleaning then clears the whole season's load before melting snow starts refreezing in the gutters.
What our crews find in Northern Colorado gutters in the fall
Wet, packed leaves. Ash, maple and cottonwood leaves make up most of what we clear. Once they get wet, they mat down and block the openings to the downspouts.
Honey locust pods and leaves. Honey locust trees are common around Fort Collins and Windsor. Their leaves are small enough to slip through many gutter guards, and the long seed pods catch other debris.
Pine needles. Spruce and pine needles build up slowly and hold moisture, so a gutter under an evergreen can fill up even when the trees nearby are bare.
Shingle grit. The sandy granules that wash off asphalt shingles settle at the bottom of the gutter and add weight.
Trash. Surprisingly, loose trash like empty soda bottles, chip bags, and plastic bags, can get caught in your gutters and obstruct water flow.
Signs your gutters need cleaning before winter
Water spills over the edge. During a rainstorm, water runs over the front of the gutter instead of down the downspout.
Plants are growing in the gutter. Grass or seedlings up there mean enough packed debris has collected to hold soil and moisture.
The gutter is pulling away from the roofline. Wet leaves are heavy, and over time the extra weight loosens the fasteners.
Little water comes out of the downspout. A weak trickle during a storm usually means something is stuck partway down.
What a Rise and Shine gutter cleaning visit includes
Our crew clears your gutters by hand and bags the leaves, needles and debris to haul away at no extra cost.
We check every downspout and ensure water runs freely to the ground.
*We can also clean out window wells and rake up leaves in the yard if you add them to your quote!
If you'd like your windows cleaned on the same trip, the crew clears the gutters first and then cleans the windows.
Fall gutter cleaning questions
How often should gutters be cleaned in Fort Collins?
Twice a year works for most homes, once in the spring before cottonwood season and once in the fall after the leaves come down.
Can gutters be cleaned after the first snow or on a frosty morning?
Yes, as long as the gutters aren't frozen solid. Frozen leaves can't be pulled out of a gutter, so later in the season we schedule gutter work for later in the day, once it has warmed up enough for the debris to thaw.
Do I need to be home for gutter cleaning?
Nope! Since the work is performed outside, you can be at work or out running errands. We text you when the crew arrives and again when they finish.
Can you clean my windows on the same visit?
Yes. Add window cleaning to your quote, and the crew will clean the gutters first and the windows second, so nothing from the gutters lands on your clean glass.
Do you install gutter guards or repair gutters?
We do not. But we have a great roofing partner if you need help with gutter guard installation or gutter repairs.
Book your gutter cleaning
We clear your gutters by hand and flush every downspout, so melting snow drains off the roof all winter.
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