Spring: clear winter damage and cottonwood
Spring is the most important maintenance season in Utah. Winter leaves behind debris, ice-displaced hangers, and loosened connections — and then cottonwood season arrives in May–June and fills everything with seed fluff. Schedule the spring clean for after cottonwood ends, typically late June, so the system is clear and flushed before monsoon season. It’s also the moment to check seams and hangers for freeze-thaw damage.
Summer: post-monsoon inspection
July through September brings afternoon thunderstorms that will find any weakness cottonwood left behind. After the first big storms, look for overflow marks and debris buildup, trim branches that overhang the roofline, and confirm downspout extensions still point where they should.
Fall: the pre-winter cleanout
October–November, after leaf drop and before hard freezes, is the second essential window. A gutter that goes into winter clogged will hold water that freezes, expands, and pries at every hanger and seam. Check pitch while you’re at it — runs should slope to their downspouts with no low spots holding standing water.
Winter: living with freeze-thaw
Snow melts by day, refreezes by night, and loads the gutter with ice either way. The best winter preparation happens in fall: clean runs, correct pitch, clear downspouts. Two rules for the cold months: never chip ice out of a gutter with a metal tool — you’ll ruin the finish and likely the metal — and use a roof rake from the ground to pull snow back from the roof edge.