Gutters in Sunrise, FL

The code requires a downspout to discharge at least 1 foot from the sidewall of the building. That can be done with underground piping, tail extensions or splash blocks. Water that lands next to the foundation on a Sunrise lot can soak into the soil that holds up the slab, so the discharge point matters as much as the gutter size.

For an older Sunrise home, the median build year of 1983 suggests many gutters were installed decades ago and may be undersized for today's rain rates. About 68.8 percent of occupied homes here are owner-occupied, so most of these decisions fall to the homeowner. Check the gutter size and the downspout count before you assume the existing system is adequate.

Rain falls hardest from June through October here. At the Fort Lauderdale airport, 71.9 percent of the annual rain comes between May and October, and June is the wettest month at 9.55 inches. Clogged gutters during that stretch are the most likely point of failure.

Live oaks drop leaves that become a litter problem, and oak and pine pollen peaks in March and April. Tower Hill recommends cleaning gutters at least twice a year, and more often under overhanging trees. Clean in late spring, before the storm season, and again after the autumn needle drop.