Exterior · high safety risk
Inspect gutters and downspouts
Move rainwater away from the roof, walls, and foundation.
- How often
- Twice a year
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Editorial status
- Awaiting human review
Before you begin
Tools
- Binoculars for ground inspection
How to do it
- Walk the perimeter and look for sagging, leaks, or overflow marks.
- From the ground, check downspout outlets for blockage.
- Confirm extensions discharge water away from the foundation.
- Arrange safe cleaning or professional service where debris is visible.
Stop and get help when
- Loose gutter sections
- Electrical lines near access
- Unsafe ladder footing
- Roof damage
Use a qualified gutter or roofing professional whenever inspection or cleaning requires unsafe ladder or roof access.
Sources and review
Written by Upkeeping editorial team. This draft is awaiting human subject-matter and safety review and is not eligible for search indexing.