Fall in Southern Ontario is truly beautiful, particularly with the changing leaves and array of colours. But, with great change comes great responsibility! Seriously though… fall is also the season when your eavestroughs do the heaviest work. As those leaves fall, troughs clog up (and fast). If they’re not cleared before the snow and ice arrive, you risk leaks, ice dams, destroyed eavestroughs, and water damage that can spread from your roof right down to your foundation.
Here’s why fall eavestrough maintenance matters, what to look for, and how to keep your home safe before winter comes.
Fall Eavestrough Maintenance: Why It (Actually) Matters
Your home is likely the most expensive thing you’ll ever own. So, it’s worth spending a few hours to maintain it’s wellbeing and prevent potentially tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Here are 3 reasons why fall eavestrough maintenance matters:
1. Moisture Causes Rot and Mould
Clogged gutters stops water. And when water can’t flow through your eavestrough system, it will find the next easiest spot. Water can seep into your soffit and fascia, soak the wood under your roofline, and even leak into walls or basements.
Don’t underestimate the power of water. Over time, that moisture can cause rot and mold, which can be serious problems for the health of your home (and your own personal health). And this doesn’t even account for the possible foundation cracks, basement floods, and even more damage that clogged gutters can cause.
2. Ice Dams and Frozen Gutters
Standing water left in your eavestroughs doesn’t just sit there. It will find it’s way somewhere. But even if it pools and freezes, once temperatures drop, you’ll get ice dams. These blockages push water back under shingles or cause troughs to warp and pull away from the house. And when that happens, you’re looking at replacing parts of your roof and eavestroughs (many thousands of dollars) just because you didn’t clean the gutters in the fall.
3. Prevent Issues From The Beginning
Regular cleaning is prevention. A clean, working eavestrough system keeps water moving away from your home. Staying on top of maintenance saves you from expensive repairs in spring. Consider adding gutter guards to your eavestroughs to avoid the build up of leaves and branches in the fall.
The Best Time to Do It
The general rule of thumb is to do maintenance on your eavestroughs at least twice per year – once in the spring and once in the fall. In autumn, aim to clean and inspect your eavestroughs after most leaves have fallen, but before it starts snowing. In Southern Ontario, that’s usually late October into early November.
Fall Eavestrough Maintenance Checklist
Cleaning
☑️ Scoop out leaves, twigs, and dirt. Use gloves or even a small scoop for this.
☑️ Once gunk is removed, flush the troughs with a hose to make sure water flows freely (check the downspouts)
☑️ Clear the bottom of the downspouts so water drains away from your foundation (add distance if needed)
☑️ Trim back trees or tall hedges near the roofline to reduce future buildup
☑️ Keep your yard tidy so loose debris doesn’t blow up onto the roof
Inspection & Repair
✅ Visually look for sagging sections or loose fasteners
✅ Confirm troughs are angled correctly toward downspouts (can test with water to see if it pools)
✅ Seal small cracks or leaks before winter weather makes them worse
✅ Make sure eavestroughs are tightly connected to fascia boards to handle snow and ice (important)
✅ Redirect downspouts so water drains away from the house (too much close to the house can cause flooding in the spring)
Prevention With Gutter Guards
One of the best long-term solutions is adding gutter guards to your eavestroughs. A high-quality system like Alu-Rex gutter protection keeps out leaves and debris while still allowing water to flow through. You can skip most of the maintenance and checklist above, spend less time on a ladder, and have fewer (if any) clogs to worry about.
The Eavestrough Company proudly installs Alu-Rex products as part of our eavestrough services, giving homeowners in Southern Ontario extra peace of mind year-round.
DIY or Hire a Professional?
If you’re doing it yourself, follow these tips:
DIY Fall Eavestrough Maintenance Tips
1. Use a sturdy ladder with stabilizers.
2. Wear non-slip footwear and gloves.
3. Watch for power lines and overhead wires.
4. Never work in icy, wet, or windy conditions.
When to Call a Pro
If you don’t have the time, the tools, capability, or simply don’t want to take the risk, hiring a professional is a smart move. A trained crew can clean, inspect, and repair your system quickly and safely.
The Payoff: Protecting Your Home
When you think about it, eavestroughs are your first line of defense against water damage. A simple fall cleaning prevents rot, mold, foundation cracks, and all kinds of other damage to your property caused by overflow. Proper cleaning and maintenance prepares your home for the freeze-thaw cycles of our Ontario climate, protecting your most valuable asset for years to come.
Keep water moving where it should: away from your house. Need help getting your home ready for winter? The Eavestrough Company installs Canadian-sourced aluminum eavestroughs, fascia, soffit, siding, and Alu-Rex gutter protection systems on homes in your area. We even custom cut them on-site for the perfect fit. Contact us today for a free estimate.
