Short answer: because you live in Michigan. For the long-technical answer: Read ahead.
If there is one thing I have learned in the seven years of professional gutter cleaning (and other home maintenance services) is: Don’t Wait Until You Have a Problem!
Not servicing your gutters can be a costly mistake if your gutters clog. If you wait until you have a noticeable problem it may be too late to prevent damage to your gutters, fascia, soffit, or roofing.
There was just a story on the news the other day in Grosse Pointe of a woman who was experiencing water leaking into the home- from a damaged roof - from neglected gutters.
Don't let this be you. If there's one thing you'll hear me say often, its- clean your gutters at least once a year! It's just a way of life here in the upper North region of the country.
With great foliage, comes great (cleaning) responsibility!
Best Times To Clean Your Gutters
Anytime in Spring and in the Late Fall are the best times to clean your gutters in Michigan.
Spring is a good time to clean out everything that has amassed in your gutters during the winter and ensure that your gutters are working properly for our ever-increasing spring rain fall.
And the Fall is a good time to clean your gutters to make sure they are clean enough to handle the roof drainage that will be required for winter's harsh rain, ice, and snowfall.
I say late Fall due to the nature of our foliage. The wind will carry debris all the way up until mid-late November, especially if you are surrounded by our notable deciduous trees (Maple, Beech, Hemlock, Oak, and more).
Why Clean in Spring
The same reason you clean in Fall, is the reason you will also want to clean your gutters in the Spring. We are the tree state - with even more trees and forests than Vermont!
The two harshest seasons on your gutters are the freezing winters where we see a majority of our ice and snow build ups and the late Spring when the rain ramps up. Making sure your gutters are clear of debris at these points in the year, will help ensure debris does not get knocked down causing any dams or clogs.
A simple way to check on a gutter’s performance is to wait for a rainy day and look to see if water is emptying from the downspouts. If water isn’t flowing freely from the bottom of a downspout, or if you notice water overflowing the edges of the gutter, there is debris clogging the gutters or downspouts - or both.
This is a reason to give us a call immediately. Most clogs can be fixed by hand, yard tool, garden hose, or plumber's snake. We see and handle these issues regularly and have committed ourselves to keeping the community informed and safe.
It is just a matter of noticing early and taking the right preventative measures.