Domakihub Clean Your Gutters Before They Cause Real Damage
A practical step-by-step guide for homes, rentals, and hotels across Greece.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Blocked gutters are one of the most common causes of water damage to Greek properties — from Athens villas to Mykonos holiday rentals — yet the fix costs almost nothing when you catch it early. The video above shows the job from start to finish on a typical home; the steps below translate that into a reliable routine you can follow on any single- or two-storey building. Do this twice a year and your fascia boards, foundations, and interior ceilings will thank you.
Why Gutters Block Up Faster in Greece
Olive trees, pine needles, and the dry, leaf-heavy autumn winds that sweep across much of mainland Greece and the islands send a surprising volume of debris into roof gutters. Add the intense summer sun that bakes organic matter into a near-concrete crust, and you have conditions that block gutters more quickly than in cooler, wetter climates.
Holiday rental owners face extra pressure: a blocked gutter that goes unnoticed between guest stays can overflow silently against a wall for weeks, saturating insulation and eventually showing up as mould indoors — exactly the kind of defect that triggers bad reviews and costly remediation.
When and How Often to Clean
In most parts of Greece, twice a year is the minimum: once in late November after the main autumn leaf-fall, and again in April before the dry season. Properties under large pines or eucalyptus trees — common in holiday-rental areas like Halkidiki and the Peloponnese — may need a third clean in late summer when pine cones and bark shed heavily.
Hotels and multi-unit buildings should schedule professional cleans at the same intervals and document them, both for building-insurance compliance and for evidence during any future water-damage dispute.
How to Clean Your Gutters: 5 Steps
- 1
Gather your tools and prepare safely
You need a sturdy extension ladder with a stabiliser arm (never lean the ladder directly against the gutter — it will dent or crack), thick rubber gloves, a small plastic scoop or garden trowel, a bucket with a hook to hang on the ladder, safety glasses, and a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Place the ladder on firm, level ground and — if working alone — use a ladder stand-off bracket to keep the top away from the gutter itself.
- 2
Remove loose debris by hand
Starting at the end of the gutter nearest a downpipe, scoop out leaves, pine needles, silt, and any compacted matter into your bucket. Work along the gutter towards the high end (away from the downpipe). Removing the bulk of the debris by hand first prevents the mess of trying to flush compacted material through the downpipe, which can cause blockages below roof level.
- 3
Flush the gutter with water
Once the loose material is out, run your garden hose along the gutter from the high end down towards the downpipe outlet. Observe how quickly the water moves: it should flow steadily without pooling. If water sits in the middle of a section the gutter may have sagged and needs re-hanging — a job best handled by a Domakihub-listed tradesperson. Adjust the nozzle to a firm stream (not high-pressure jet) to dislodge the remaining thin film of silt.
- 4
Clear the downpipes
Push the hose directly into the top of each downpipe and run water at full pressure. If the water backs up rather than exiting at the bottom, the pipe is blocked. Insert a plumber's flexible rod (widely available at Greek hardware shops) from the bottom to break the blockage loose, then flush again from the top. Stubborn blockages — especially in older properties with terracotta or lead downpipes — may need a drain-clearing professional.
- 5
Inspect, seal small cracks, and record the job
While you are at gutter level, check the sealant joints at every internal corner and end cap. Small separations appear as thin dark lines and can be re-sealed with gutter-grade silicone (available at any Greek building-supply merchant) for under five euros. Check the gutter hangers: any that have pulled away from the fascia board need re-screwing with longer stainless fasteners. Note the date in a simple maintenance log — your building insurer, holiday-rental platform, or hotel certification body may ask for it.
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FAQ
- Is it safe to clean gutters myself, or should I hire a professional?
- Single-storey homes are straightforward DIY territory if you use a proper ladder with stabilisers and follow basic fall-prevention rules. Two-storey and above — or any property with a fragile tile roof you must work close to — is better left to a professional with the right scaffolding or roof-access equipment. In Greece, many general handymen (technites) offer gutter cleaning as a standalone service and can be booked through Domakihub.
- How can I tell my gutters are blocked without getting on a ladder?
- After any rainfall, walk around the perimeter of the building and look for water spilling over the gutter edge rather than exiting neatly from the downpipe at ground level. Damp patches on exterior walls below the gutter line, and streaks of mud or green algae running down the facade, are also clear signs. Inside the building, damp patches at the top of exterior walls or in the ceiling of the uppermost floor can indicate overflow that has been seeping for some time.
- Do I need gutters at all on a Greek island property with very little rain?
- Yes — arguably more than elsewhere. The rainfall Greece does receive tends to arrive in short, intense bursts, particularly from October through February. A single heavy storm can dump 40 mm of rain in two hours; without functioning gutters that water runs straight off the roof, erodes soil at the base of the building, and forces water against foundations and basement walls. Gutters also protect rendered exterior walls from the streaking and spalling that shortens paint and plaster life considerably in sunny, salt-air coastal environments.