Seasonal Maintenance
When Should I Get My Gutters Cleaned? (Markham Homeowner's Guide)
If you've never scheduled a professional gutter cleaning before, the most common question we get from Markham homeowners is simple: when is the right time? The short answer is twice a year — but the timing matters more than most people think, and skipping the wrong season is the #1 cause of overflow, ice dams, and expensive water damage.
The Two Best Times to Clean Your Gutters
In the Greater Toronto Area, gutters should be cleaned at minimum twice per year: once in late spring (May–June) and once in late fall (mid-October to late November).
Spring cleanings clear out winter debris, seed pods, and shingle grit before summer thunderstorms hit. Fall cleanings remove leaves after the trees have fully dropped — this is the critical one, because clogged gutters heading into a Markham winter turn into frozen dams that lift shingles and push water into your fascia.
Why the Fall Cleaning Is Non-Negotiable
Markham has heavy tree cover — maples, oaks, and evergreens all drop needles and leaves well into November. If those sit in your gutters when the first freeze hits, meltwater has nowhere to go. It backs up under the shingles, freezes overnight, and creates ice dams that force water into your attic and interior walls.
Repairing water damage from a single ice-dam event routinely costs $3,000–$12,000. A fall gutter cleaning is one of the highest ROI home maintenance jobs you can book.
When You Should Clean More Often
Book quarterly (4x/year) if your home is surrounded by mature trees, sits under pine or spruce, or if you've had overflow issues in the past.
Book an emergency cleaning any time you see water spilling over the front edge of your gutter during rain, streaks down your siding, or hear water where you shouldn't.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to clean gutters in spring or fall?
Both — but if you can only do one, choose late fall. Winter ice damage from clogged gutters causes the most expensive repairs in the GTA.
Can I wait until winter to clean my gutters?
No. Once temperatures drop below freezing, debris freezes into place and ladder work becomes unsafe. Book before the first hard frost.
How long does a gutter cleaning take?
For a typical Markham detached home, expect 45–90 minutes depending on debris load, roof pitch, and downspout condition.
If you're not sure whether your gutters need attention right now, our team offers free quotes and same-week appointments across Markham and the GTA.
Fast, safe, fully insured gutter cleaning across Markham and the GTA.