How to clean your gutters before the rain

Why it matters

NOAA's 30-year averages for John Wayne Airport put about 8.9 of the year's 11.2 inches of rain in December through March, often in a few heavy storms. A gutter packed with summer leaves overflows against the walls and foundation, and the EPA lists clean gutters and soil that slopes away from the house as basic moisture and mold control. Dry leaves in a gutter are also fuel for embers, which our wildfire guide covers. Gutters are the first job on our fall home maintenance checklist for Southern California.

Steps

1. Check the ladder for damage before you use it.
2. Set it on firm, level ground at about a 75 degree angle, and have someone hold it if you can.
3. Scoop debris into a bucket, working toward the downspout.
4. Move the ladder often. Keep your body between the rails instead of reaching out to the side.
5. Flush the gutter with the hose and watch the water leave the downspout.
6. If a downspout is clogged, flush it from the top, or from the bottom upward.
7. Check that the downspout outlet sends water at least a few feet away from the foundation and toward a drain or the street, not toward a neighbor's wall.

When to call a pro

Hire a gutter or roofing contractor for a second story, a steep or tile roof you would have to walk on, or gutters that have pulled away from the fascia.

Safety

The CDC says many ladder injuries happen at home, and about 40 percent of ladder injuries come from the ladder sliding out at the base because it was set at the wrong angle. Do not overreach, and never carry a heavy load up the ladder.

Go deeper

• Fall home maintenance in Southern California
• Santa Ana wind and wildfire prep
• Roof replacement cost