Rain gutters are not top of mind to homeowners due to their being hidden from plain sight from ground level. Rain gutters are meant to drain water flow from the roof and divert it away to drain safely away from the home. Rain gutters can become clogged up with debris falling down the roof such as leaves, twigs, needles, dirt, and moss. All rain gutters need to be cleaned out at least once per year, some of them require cleaning twice per year. Factors such as the tree coverage above, pitch of the roof, roof material, and cleanliness of the roof all affect how often rain gutters need to be cleaned out.

When rain gutters get clogged up with debris, they no longer drain water and the water will overflow and pour down onto the ground below. This un-desired water source can easily seep into home foundations and produce a water leak in the basement, can rot wood fascia and trim, can trigger mould and mildew growth on the soffits, and the weight of debris and water will eventually loosen the gutters off the mounting brackets and cause them to either sag or fall right off the fascia board. Dirty rain gutters will also drip water from the seams sooner since the caulking will deteriorate much quicker.