How often should you clean gutters in Melbourne?

The short answer

Twice a year suits most Melbourne homes: once after the autumn leaf drop and once before summer. If you have eucalypts anywhere near the roofline, make it three — gums shed year round and the litter is exactly the kind that catches.

How to tell without a ladder

Stand back from the house after heavy rain. Water spilling over the front edge of the gutter instead of running to the downpipe means a blockage. Plants growing out of the gutter mean it has been left long enough to build soil. Staining down the fascia means it has been overflowing for a while.

Why it matters more than it sounds

A blocked gutter backs water up under the roofline, where it finds the timber. That is a roof repair, not a cleaning bill. In summer the same gutter full of dry litter sits directly under your eaves in a state fire authorities have plenty to say about.

Placeholder article — replace before launch.