Gutter Winterization
Handis gutter winterization is the single late-fall visit that matters most on a Seattle-area home — every gutter run cleared after the bulk of bigleaf-maple and alder leaf-drop, downspouts flow-tested from the top, anything slow snaked, leaf-guard inspection if a system is installed, foundation drainage and splash-block check, and a same-day photo report of fascia and downspout straps. From $250 for a single-story standard home; up to $700 for two-story with steep slopes, complex roof lines, and longer perimeter runs. The clean that matters is the one that goes on after the maples are done — a gutter overflowing through January and February is the single most reliable way to rot a piece of fascia, back up foundation drainage, and start a basement seep. The fall clean prevents that whole chain.
Service
What Does Gutter Winterization Include?
The visit is a single late-fall run across every gutter run, every downspout, and the drainage path that takes the water away from the foundation. The tech works from a fixed checklist; every run is cleared, every downspout is flow-tested, every fascia anomaly is photographed. The standard package covers six work categories on a home up to 2,500 sq ft.
Every Gutter Run Cleared
Tech clears every gutter run on the house — front, back, sides, dormer runs, and any low-line runs over porches or sunroom roofs. Material removed by hand, then a quick rinse if water is available and the temperature allows. Late-fall clean catches the bulk of bigleaf maple (drops mid-October through early November), alder (October through mid-November), and street trees (Norway maple, oak, ornamental). Cleared debris piled on a tarp and either hauled off the site or moved to the customer's yard-waste bin per preference.
Downspout Flow Test from the Top
Every downspout gets a flow test from the top — a controlled pour of water from the gutter into the downspout opening, with the tech walking around to confirm the discharge at the bottom is clean and fast. Anything draining slow gets snaked from the top, with auger or water pressure as the blockage requires. Underground drain line ties (the elbow where the downspout enters a buried drain to daylight) get checked at the cleanout if there is one; full underground line jetting is a specialty-contractor scope.
Leaf-Guard Inspection
If the home has a leaf-guard system installed (Gutterglove, LeafFilter, GutterShield, foam inserts, or simple wire mesh), the tech inspects the screens for debris that has accumulated on top, gaps where the screen has pulled away, and any sections that have collapsed. Surface debris is brushed off; structural issues with the screen are noted in the report. Leaf-guards reduce gutter cleaning frequency, but they do not eliminate it — every two to three years they need a clean below the screen too.
Foundation Drainage & Splash-Block Check
Tech walks the base of every downspout — splash blocks angled to push water away from the foundation, extensions in place where the splash block alone would not move the water far enough, and a visual on the foundation in the splash zone. Splash blocks that have been kicked out of place get reset. Extensions that have detached get reattached if the parts are on site; if a new extension is needed, it gets quoted on the report. Underground drainage that is backing up at a cleanout gets flagged for a specialty contractor.
Fascia & Downspout-Strap Visual Check
Tech walks the full perimeter and photographs any fascia that looks soft, blistered, or showing rot at a gutter joint; any downspout straps that have backed out, separated, or rusted through; any gutter sections sagging away from the fascia; and any seams that are leaking through the back side. Small fixes that fit the visit (a strap re-set, a section re-screwed) get done on the spot with sign-off; larger fascia repair or gutter section replacement gets quoted.
Same-Day Photo Report
Same-day dated photo report with the cleared gutter runs, the flow-test results, the foundation drainage status, any leaf-guard issues, fascia and strap anomalies, and one paragraph per zone written by the tech. The report lands in your inbox the same day as the visit. Add-on repairs the tech recommends (downspout section replacement, fascia repair, leaf-guard section replacement, splash-block install, underground drain line jet) get quoted at member labor rates for a follow-up scheduled before the heavy rains arrive.
How the Gutter Winterization Visit Works
Five steps every Handis gutter winterization visit runs through — schedule after the bulk of the leaf-drop, clear every run, flow-test every downspout, check the foundation drainage path, and send the same-day photo report.
Schedule After the Bulk of the Leaf-Drop
Bigleaf maple drops mid-October through early November, alder runs October through mid-November, street trees run through Thanksgiving. The clean goes on the calendar after the bulk is done but before the atmospheric river chain starts — most Seattle lowland homes book the second or third week of November. Earlier visits work if the trees on this lot drop earlier; the tech adjusts the schedule based on what is in the gutter the day of.
Clear Every Gutter Run on the House
Tech walks every run — front, back, sides, dormer, low-line runs over porches and sunroom roofs. Material removed by hand and piled on a tarp at the base. Quick rinse if water is available and the weather allows; otherwise the run is left clear and the rinse happens at the next dry visit. Larger homes and steep slopes take longer; the estimate accounts for the perimeter.
Flow-Test Every Downspout from the Top
Tech pours a controlled volume of water from the gutter into each downspout opening and walks to the bottom to confirm clean, fast discharge. Anything slow gets snaked with auger or water pressure as the blockage requires. Underground drain ties get checked at the cleanout if there is one.
Check the Foundation Drainage Path
Walk the base of every downspout — splash blocks reset if kicked, extensions reattached if detached, foundation visual in the splash zone for any wet spots. Anything that suggests water reaching the foundation gets photographed and flagged. Underground drain that is backing up at a cleanout routes to a specialty drainage contractor with a hydro-jet rig.
Send the Same-Day Photo Report
Same-day dated photo report with the cleared runs, downspout flow-test results, foundation drainage status, leaf-guard inspection, fascia and strap anomalies, and one paragraph per zone. Add-on repairs (downspout section replacement, fascia repair, leaf-guard work, splash-block install, underground drain jet) quoted at member rates for a follow-up scheduled before the heavy rains arrive.
Gutter Winterization Pricing
Final pricing depends on home size, story count, roof complexity, and the length of the gutter perimeter. Two-story homes and complex rooflines price higher; leaf-guard systems lower the price floor for some visits. Request a free estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the home size and story count, and whether there is a leaf-guard — we will quote the visit.
Why Seattle Homeowners Book Handis for Gutter Winterization
A Seattle gutter fails in slow motion. The first overflowing rain in November is not a problem on its own — water pours down the wall, hits the foundation, and runs off. The second is also not a problem. By February, after three months of overflow into the same splash zone, the fascia behind the gutter is starting to soften and the foundation drainage is starting to back up. By April, the fascia has rot, the basement is taking on a seep, and the conversation has moved from a $250 clean to a $4,000 fascia and drainage repair. The late-fall clean catches the whole chain before it starts. The tech who arrives in November has seen it run a thousand times.
Timed against the bigleaf-maple, alder, and street-tree drop
Bigleaf maple drops mid-October through early November on most Seattle lots. Alder runs concurrent through mid-November. Street trees (Norway maple, ornamental cherry, oak) finish closer to Thanksgiving. The clean is timed to catch the bulk — too early and another wave is coming; too late and the gutter has been overflowing for weeks. We adjust the date based on what is on the lot the week of the visit.
The downspout flow test is the test that matters
A gutter that looks clear from the ground can still have a blockage at the downspout opening or in the elbow at the bottom. The flow test catches it — water poured in at the top, discharge confirmed at the bottom. Most clogs are at the elbow or in the underground tie; both get cleared on the visit. A run that looked fine to the eye and failed the flow test is the most common find on a Seattle gutter.
Foundation drainage gets walked, not assumed
Tech walks the base of every downspout and checks the splash zone for any sign of water reaching the foundation. Splash blocks reset if kicked. Extensions reattached if detached. Underground drain ties checked at the cleanout. Foundation drainage failures kill basements over years, not days; the fall visit catches them before they accumulate.
Honest scope — handyman work only, specialty handoff when needed
The visit covers the gutter, the downspout, and the drainage path from the downspout to a daylight discharge or the start of an underground line. Underground drain line jetting (when an entire buried run is choked), full gutter system replacement, complex fascia or soffit reconstruction, and structural roof or rafter repair route to specialty contractors — we name the issue in the report and recommend who to call.
Insured, background-checked, 30-day workmanship guarantee
Every Handis handyman carries liability insurance and has cleared a background screening before the first job. The 30-day workmanship guarantee applies to the visit — if a gutter clean re-clogs from our debris within 30 days, a strap we re-set backs out, a splash block we reset gets kicked again from settlement we did not warn you about, or a downspout extension we reattached comes loose, we come back and fix it at no extra charge.
Estimate
Tell us the home size and story count, whether there is a leaf-guard system installed (and what brand if you know it), how many dormers and complex roof areas, and whether you have ever had a foundation drainage backup at a downspout. We send back a clear estimate for the visit.
Customer Reviews
Recent gutter winterization reviews from verified Seattle-area customers.
West Seattle craftsman with a basement and the longest fall maple drop I have ever seen. November visit cleared every run, flow-tested every downspout, and found one underground drain tie that had separated at the cleanout. Water had been pouring at the foundation in every storm. They re-tied it and the basement stayed dry through the worst week of February.
Beacon Hill home with leaf-guards installed three years ago. The tech inspected them, brushed the surface debris, and flagged two sections where the screen had pulled away from the gutter lip. Quoted the screen reset for a separate visit. The clean itself was fast because the screens were mostly working. Honest about what they do and do not do.
Two-story Mercer Island home with steep north-facing slopes and three dormers. Tech took his time, cleared every run, photographed every downspout discharge, and walked the foundation. Found one downspout extension that had detached over the summer — reattached on the spot. The photo report was thorough enough to share with our property insurance.
Bellevue rambler, fall clean every November for three years. The tech is now the same guy every time. He opens last year's report before he gets on the ladder, knows which downspout was slow the previous fall, brings the auger up first. The whole visit takes about ninety minutes. Best $250 we spend in the year.
Issaquah Highlands home, three-quarter perimeter of bigleaf maple, gutter runs always packed by mid-November. We added the gutter winterization to our fall package. The visit catches the maple after it finishes dropping; the run is clean for the whole atmospheric-river season. Zero overflow last year, first year that has happened since we moved in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Handis gutter winterization — pricing, scope, scheduling, leaf-guards, foundation drainage, and what routes to a specialty contractor.