How To Prepare Your Gutters for a Hurricane in 5 Steps

When hurricanes are on the horizon, it’s more important than ever to make sure your gutters are ready to take on the upcoming deluge of water. Gutters help protect your roof, walls, lawn, and foundation from heavy rainfall and overflow. If you live in an area prone to strong storms, hurricane-proofing your gutters is a must.

In this article, I’ll cover the essential steps for preparing your gutters to withstand hurricanes, including cleaning them thoroughly, inspecting for damage, and sealing any leaks found.

1. Start by Cleaning out Your Gutters

Debris, like leaves, branches, animal refuse, and general gunk from surrounding trees, can build up in your gutters, creating blockages. If your rain gutters are clogged, they won’t be able to direct the massive amounts of water that come with hurricanes. If you haven’t cleaned your gutters since last fall, or even worse, last spring, it’s time to get a ladder and a scoop. There are a few ways you can clean your gutters: 

Use a Leaf Blower

You can use a leaf blower to blast the debris out of your gutters. However, know that this can send leaves, twigs, and anything else unpleasant inside your gutters flying everywhere. Wear protective safety gear, like eye protection, a dust mask, gloves, and long-sleeve clothes when using a leaf blower. 

Use a Scoop

One of the most effective ways to clean out gutters is with a quality scoop. You can pick up a gutter scoop at most home improvement stores, but if you can’t get one, a hand trowel or a child’s sandbox shovel also works.

Do it by Hand

It can be difficult to get a leaf blow or scoop into certain gutters, so an alternative is to buy a thick set of gloves and manually scoop everything out. This method can be the most hazardous, as gutters can have some nasty stuff in them, so don’t skip out on quality gloves. Make sure they’re thick, long, durable, and waterproof. 

After you get most of the debris out of your gutter system, you can use a hose to rinse out the remainder of the gunk. 

2. Check for Damage and Loose Connections

While cleaning out your gutter system, you should check for any damage to individual pieces. If a portion of your gutters are damaged or worn down, they won’t function optimally. This could lead to further damage or significant leaks. While inspecting, check for any of the following: 

• Openings between the connector and gutter section 
• Loose nails or gutter screws
• Broken, dislodged, or missing end cap 
• Loose or disconnected brackets 
• Sagging section and loose hangers 
• Cracking, rust, chipped paint, etc. 
• Broken or faulty seals 
• Gaps between the wall and fascia
• Gaps between the gutters and the edge of the shingles

You can fix most of these issues yourself, but you should call a professional gutter installer for more serious issues, such as a collapsed gutter. 

3. Check for Leaks and Seal Them

One final step before giving your gutters the stamp of approval is to check the overall drainage of the system. You should examine your gutters for leaks so that they work properly. Gutters can have many small gaps, holes, or clogs that can be easily overlooked. Finding leaks and sealing them before storm season will protect your home from water damage that occurs from leaking gutters. You’ll ideally want a second person for this job, but you can do it alone in a pinch.

Here’s how to inspect for leaks and effectively seal them in your gutters. Begin by climbing up your ladder while carefully carrying a garden hose. Turn the hose on and begin to fill your gutters with water. At this point, if you have a partner, have them walk along the gutters looking for leaks. While up at the top of the gutters, you should check the water flow speed. If the water travels at a normal pace, you’re good to go. If the water drains slowly, your spout may have a clog. 

If you don’t have a partner, carefully descend the ladder and walk along the gutters, checking for any leaks as the remainder of the water drains. If you encounter any leaks, you’ll want to seal them or replace the gutter section. 

Gutter cleaning can be a challenging task. This video by Home Depot does a great job of explaining how to repair basic damage to a gutter system.

4. Do Proactive Pruning To Reduce Post-Hurricane Cleanup

Hurricanes can cause a mess, especially when gutters are involved. High winds can rip off shingles and entire roofs. When faced with the high winds of a hurricane, overhanging trees can cause major damage to your home and property. Leaves, seeds, pollen, and entire tree limbs can fall onto your roof and gutters. If the winds are strong enough, they can pull off large limbs, resulting in dents to your gutters, broken gutter sections, or even a full collapse. To help prevent this, make sure to proactively trim back your overhanging tree limbs before a hurricane hits.

Tree trimming involves working at heights and can be hazardous. If you are unsteady on a ladder or do not have the necessary tools, hire a professional to trim branches away from your roof. Professionals have the expertise and equipment to trim trees that are close to your home safely. 

You might also consider installing gutter guards. Top-rated gutter guards will help keep any flying debris from the hurricane from getting inside your system.

5. Keep an Eye on Window Wells

One important thing for homeowners to keep an eye on when the storm hits is window wells. If your downspouts discharge water right next to your home, the water may flow down into these wells. To help avoid this, use a downspout extender to direct water flow further away from your home. Heavy rains from storms may result in a flooded window well even if your gutters are directing water properly. A flooded window well can lead to problems, the most severe of which is a flooded basement and water damage. Your best method for protecting your window well is a good window well cover.

Final Thoughts

Checking and maintaining your gutters before hurricane season protects your home from potential water damage. Gutters play a vital role in directing rainwater away from your roof and foundation, preventing possible structural issues and mold growth. I recommend regular gutter cleaning twice a year in spring and fall. Make sure they remain clear of debris, such as leaves and twigs that can block water flow during heavy rainstorms. Proactive gutter maintenance keeps your gutters working efficiently and reduces your pre-storm preparation as hurricane season approaches.

In addition to routine cleaning, inspect your gutters and roof after severe weather events, especially if there were strong winds or hail. Damaged gutters or roof shingles can’t channel water, leading to leaks and further damage during and after storms. Have a professional roof inspection done after storms to identify and address any issues early, minimizing the risk of costly repairs or insurance claims. You can significantly improve your home’s resilience against hurricanes and other severe weather conditions with vigilant preparation.