When to clean the gutters

Gutters should be cleaned twice a year; the fall clean happens after main leaf drop and before freeze-up, and it is the one that prevents ice dams. The spring pass waits until after seed and blossom drop.

Your place

Fall window–Set your place

Spring pass–

Fall window opens, yearly reminder.

Why timing matters

The fall clean is the critical one. Leaves left in the gutter hold water that freezes as temperatures drop, forming ice dams that back water up under shingles and into the house. Cleaning too early leaves later leaves; cleaning too late risks working on frozen gutters.

The window above starts at your average first fall frost and runs for five weeks or until December 1, whichever comes first. The spring suggestion is two weeks after your average last frost, when seed and blossom drop has mostly finished.

Gutter windows for major cities

City		Fall window opens	Fall window closes
Victoria	BC	November 5	December 1
Vancouver	BC	November 10	December 1
Kelowna	BC	September 28	November 2
Calgary	AB	September 16	October 21
Edmonton	AB	September 12	October 17
Saskatoon Diefenbaker	SK	September 15	October 20
Regina	SK	September 12	October 17
Winnipeg Richardson	MB	September 22	October 27
Sudbury	ON	October 1	November 5
Ottawa Cda	ON	October 6	November 10
Toronto Lester B. Pearson	ON	October 16	November 20
Windsor	ON	October 30	December 1
Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau	QC	October 12	November 16
Quebec/Jean Lesage	QC	October 4	November 8
Fredericton	NB	September 25	October 30
Halifax Stanfield	NS	October 18	November 22
Charlottetown	PE	October 17	November 21
Whitehorse	YT	August 25	September 29
Yellowknife	NT	September 18	October 23

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Questions, answered plainly

How often should gutters be cleaned?

Twice a year in most of Canada: a light pass in late spring after seed and blossom drop, and a thorough clean in fall after leaf drop but before freeze-up. The fall clean is the one that prevents ice dams.

What happens if gutters freeze while full of leaves?

Wet debris traps water that can freeze into an ice dam, forcing meltwater under shingles and into walls. The damage often shows up as interior water stains or siding damage in late winter.

Can I clean gutters myself?

Yes, with a sturdy ladder, gloves, a gutter scoop, and a bucket or tarp. Do not work on the ladder in high wind or on a wet roof. If the roof is steep or the house is tall, hire a pro.

How this page was made

Data source: Environment and Climate Change Canada 30-year climate normals via the site dataset. Method: fall window opens at first fall frost and closes at the earlier of five weeks later or December 1; spring pass is two weeks after last spring frost. Verified 2026-06-12. Full notes on the methodology page.