How often should Melbourne gutters actually be cleaned?

Once after autumn leaf drop, around May. This is the important one — it clears the bulk before winter rain.

Once in early spring, before storm season, to clear seed, blossom and whatever the winter added.

That schedule covers most Melbourne homes with moderate tree cover.

Anything under eucalypts. Gums drop bark, leaves and seed year round rather than seasonally, and gum leaves break down into a dense sludge that holds water.

Properties in the eastern ranges — Ringwood, Croydon, the Dandenongs — where tree density is high.

Homes with a shallow roof pitch, because debris does not wash toward the outlet as readily.

Overflow runs back under the roof edge into the eave lining. Eave replacement runs into the thousands.

Water in the wall cavity causes render blistering, internal mould and, if it reaches framing, rot.

Standing water in gutters rusts them from the inside. A full re-gutter on an average home is $3,000 to $6,000.

And in summer, dry debris in gutters is an ember-catcher. In bushfire-prone areas it is a genuine safety item, not just maintenance.

Guard reduces frequency. It does not eliminate the need. Fine grit, seed and broken-down leaf matter still pass through and build up underneath.

The trap is that guard makes the problem invisible. People assume it is handled, and find out five years later when the eaves have rotted.

Guarded gutters still want a check every 18 to 24 months, with the guard lifted rather than worked around.