5 Signs Your Gutters Need Clearing

Gutters do a quiet but important job — keeping rainwater away from your walls, windows and foundations. When they're blocked, that water has to go somewhere else, and it's rarely somewhere convenient.

1. Water overflowing during rain. If you notice water spilling over the edge of a gutter rather than draining through the downpipe, that's usually the clearest sign of a blockage.

2. Plants or moss growing in the gutter. Leaves and debris that build up can hold enough moisture and soil for small plants or moss to take root — a strong indicator the gutter hasn't been cleared in some time.

3. Sagging or pulling-away sections. The weight of trapped water, leaves and debris can cause gutters to sag or pull away from their fixings over time.

4. Damp patches or staining on walls below the gutter line. Overflowing water often runs down the wall beneath, leaving visible staining or damp patches on render or brickwork.

5. Visible debris from the ground. Sometimes it's simply visible — leaves, moss or debris sitting along the gutter line when viewed from below or from an upstairs window.

If any of these sound familiar, it's worth having the gutters checked and cleared before the next heavy rainfall, particularly ahead of autumn and winter when leaf fall and storms put the most pressure on a property's drainage.