Hurricane Season Gutter Checklist for South Carolina Homeowners

Clear all gutters and downspouts

A full cleanout before June removes the spring pollen and debris buildup and gives you a clean baseline. Don't go into storm season with half-filled gutters. If you haven't had a cleanout since fall, schedule one now.

Flush downspouts and verify drainage

Run a hose down each downspout and watch where the water goes at ground level. It should exit the downspout extension and drain away from the foundation — not pool against the house. If water is pooling, you need either a longer extension or a grading fix.

Check all hangers and fasteners

Walk the perimeter and look for sections that are sagging, pulling away from the fascia, or visibly loose. Loose gutters that survive a 1-inch rain can fail completely under the weight of standing water in a 6-inch event. Repair before storm season, not during.

Inspect and seal any leaking joints or corners

Small leaks that drip during normal rain become significant flows in a tropical event. Check the corners and downspout connections for cracks or failed sealant. A gutter repair visit before season is far cheaper than dealing with the damage after.

Consider whether your gutters are sized for storm events

Standard 5-inch gutters handle most normal rain. But if your home has a steep pitch, a large roof area, or has chronically overflowed during heavy rain events in past years, it may be undersized for SC's tropical rain totals. This is worth a conversation before the season starts, not after a storm has already caused damage.

After any tropical event: inspect and re-clear

Storms blow debris into gutters even if they were clear before. After a hurricane or tropical storm passes, check for wind-blown debris and flush the system again. Back-to-back storms with a clogged gutter in between is how major damage happens.