Fall Eavestrough Cleaning & Repair Checklist for Toronto Homes
Once the maples and oaks drop their leaves, most of them end up in the same place: your eavestroughs. A few wet weekends later that layer turns into heavy, packed sludge. Fall is the moment to clear it out, because whatever is left in the trough in November is still there when it freezes in December.
Why fall eavestrough care matters
An eavestrough has one job: catch the rain coming off the roof and carry it to a downspout that sends it away from the house. When the trough is blocked or broken, water simply goes over the edge and lands next to your walls. That leads to three expensive problems.
- Water damage. Spill-over soaks the fascia boards and the soil along the foundation. From there it finds its way into wall cavities and basements.
- Mould. Wet leaves sitting in a trough for weeks are a perfect place for mould and rot. Damp fascia and basement walls let it spread indoors, where it affects the air you breathe.
- Foundation trouble. Water that keeps landing in the same spot washes soil away and softens the ground. Each freeze and thaw then pushes on the foundation and widens small cracks.
The checklist
1. Look the eavestroughs over
Walk around the house first and look up, then check more closely from a ladder. Note anything that needs repair before you start cleaning:
- holes, splits or open seams;
- rust spots or corrosion on older steel troughs;
- runs that have pulled away from the roof edge or dip in the middle;
- stains on brick or siding, which show where water has been overflowing.
2. Take out the debris
Scoop out leaves, twigs, needles and roof grit by hand or with a small plastic scoop, and drop it into a bucket or a bag rather than onto the garden. Use a stable ladder that you move often, so you never lean out to the side, and wear gloves: old troughs have sharp edges and screws. If the roof is two or more storeys high or steep, this is a job to hand to a crew with the right ladders and safety gear.
3. Flush with water
With the solid debris gone, run a garden hose from the end farthest from the downspout. The water should flow steadily toward the outlet. If it pools in one place, the slope is off or a hanger has let go. If it backs up at the outlet, the downspout is blocked.
4. Clear and check the downspouts
Every downspout should drain freely and drop the water at least five feet (about 1.5 metres) from the foundation. Add an extension or a splash block where it ends too close to the wall. A blocked downspout can usually be cleared with a plumbing snake from the bottom or the top. A downspout that is dented, crushed or split should be replaced, because it will clog again at the same spot.
5. Seal the leaks
Seams, inside and outside corners and end caps are where old eavestroughs start to drip. Scrape the joint, let it dry completely, and apply a gutter-grade sealant made for outdoor metal. If a section has rusted through or keeps leaking after sealing, it is time to replace that section instead of patching it again.
6. Think about gutter guards
If tall trees hang over your roof, you will be refilling the trough every season. Guards or screens over the eavestrough let rain in while keeping most leaves and twigs out. They do not remove maintenance completely, but they mean far fewer clean-outs and much less risk of a blocked downspout in the middle of winter.
When to call a professional
Hire a crew if the eavestroughs are high or hard to reach, if you found sagging runs, rust or several leaks, or if you simply do not want to be on a ladder in November. A professional cleaning includes a full inspection, so small repairs are done in the same visit and your eavestroughs go into winter in good shape.
The short version
Inspect, clear, flush, check the downspouts, seal the leaks and decide on guards. One afternoon of work in the fall protects your walls, basement and foundation through the whole winter. If you would rather we take care of it, ask for a free quote. We work across Toronto and the GTA.
More guides: Eavestrough or gutter? · Spring check after winter