Every autumn as the last leaves begin to fall, thousands of homeowners take time out of their busy schedules to clean out the gunk from their gutters. Those long, aluminum troughs along your roofline and the downspouts they connect to are essential for keeping rainwater moving away from your house and preventing all sorts of water-related issues.

Fortunately, cleaning gutters is not hard. All you need are a good pair of gloves, a gutter scoop, a bucket, a ladder and a garden hose. Set up the ladder so that you can see into the gutter running along your roofline. Make sure you set the ladder against the house, not the gutter, as it won’t be strong enough to support the weight. Then, using your scoop, remove all of the debris that has collected inside the gutter. Toss it into your bucket and continue moving down the length of the gutter until all is clear.

Depending upon the nature of the debris, you may need a few more tools. If the debris is mostly dried leaves, you may be able to use a leaf blower to remove it. If you have a lot of mud, you might need a trowel to scrape it up. Just be careful that you don’t damage the gutter.

Once the gutter is clear, you will need to ensure the downspouts are clear. To do this, connect the hose to a spigot, turn on the water and fill the gutter with water. Watch the downspout. If it is clear, the water should run through it and into your yard. If it is plugged, try running a hanger or a plumbing snake up it to dislodge the clog. If that doesn’t work, you may need to remove one section of the downspout at a time until you resolve the clog.

Basically aluminum pipes, downspouts generally do not get as dirty as gutters. All kinds of debris can fall into the trough-like gutters from dead insects to dried out leaves. It is important that you clean them regularly to keep the channels clear and the rainwater moving. If you don’t, all sorts of problems can arise. Water can pool in the gutters, providing the perfect breeding grounds for rust, mold and insects. As the debris builds up, it can cause the gutters to sag, which can allow the water to overflow down onto the house and into the foundation. Over time, this can damage the siding, windows and foundation. It can also cause roof rot. If left unchecked long enough, the gutters may rust out and fall, pulling the downspouts away with them.

They may not look like much, but gutters and downspouts do a lot to keep your home in good condition. Don’t leave the cleaning of them to chance. Take time out to do it yourself or hire a professional. Inexpensive gutter guards are available which you can install yourself to reduce the amount of debris that gets into your gutters and minimize cleanings. If budget permits, you might also want to look into having some type of gutter guard system installed, especially if you live in a home with multiple stories. This will keep your gutters clean and your feet on the ground for a long time to come.