Short answer
The clearest signs are water spilling over the gutter edge during rain, downspouts that stay dry in a storm, plants or seedlings growing in the gutter, sagging sections, and stains or wear on siding and the ground below. If you see any of these, your gutters need clearing.
What to look for
Water pouring over the front edge instead of out the downspouts
Downspouts that barely trickle — or stay dry — during a storm
Seedlings, grass, or moss growing in the gutter
Gutters sagging or pulling away from the fascia
Streaks or stains on siding below the gutter line
Washed-out mulch or soil along the foundation
Icicles or ice dams forming along the edge in winter
Why it matters
Clogged gutters send water exactly where you don't want it: against siding, into window wells, and along the foundation. It's cheap to prevent and expensive to ignore.
What we check while we're up there
When we clean gutters we also look at pitch, seams, and hangers, and include notes and photos of anything worth watching. We don't do gutter repairs, but we'll tell you what we see. See when to clean gutters.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Pro Solutions does gutter cleaning across Boise and the Treasure Valley. Quotes are free, itemized, and usually texted the same day.