Gutter cleaning before bushfire season is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your home. The Illawarra sits right against the escarpment and a lot of bushland, from Helensburgh and Stanwell Park down through Mount Keira, Dapto and Albion Park, and out to Jamberoo and Kiama. When the weather heats up, gutters full of dry leaves sit right where embers land.

Why dry leaves in gutters are a bushfire risk

Embers carried ahead of a bushfire by the wind are one of the main ways homes catch alight. They land on the roof, roll into the gutters, and a gutter full of dry gum leaves and bark is ready-made kindling sitting against the fascia and the edge of the roof space.

The NSW Rural Fire Service lists cleaning gutters as part of getting your property ready, along with installing metal gutter guards. You can read the RFS advice on preparing your property.

Gutter cleaning before bushfire season: a checklist

• Clear every gutter, valley and box gutter, not just the ones you can see from the ground.
• Check the downpipes are clear, so summer storms can drain properly.
• Look at the roof itself. Leaves and bark built up behind solar panels, on flat sections and around skylights burn just as easily.
• Trim branches that touch or overhang the roof where you safely can, or have an arborist do it.
• Look for gaps into the roof space, around eaves, ridge caps and vents, where embers could get in.
• Clear the ground around the house of leaf litter, wood piles and anything else that can catch.

How often to clean gutters in bushfire season

One clean before the hot months start is a good minimum. Homes backing onto bush, or with gums overhanging the roof, often need another clean partway through, because the trees keep dropping leaves and bark in dry, windy weather. See our guide on how often to clean your gutters in the Illawarra.

Is your home on bush fire prone land?

You can check on the NSW Planning Portal or with your council. If you are building or renovating, your home will also have a Bushfire Attack Level, or BAL. Our guide What Your BAL Rating Means for Gutter Guard explains the levels in plain English.

Metal gutter guard for bushfire-prone homes

If your gutters refill quickly, metal gutter guard stops most leaves settling in the gutter in the first place. The Australian Standard for building in bushfire-prone areas, AS 3959-2018, requires gutter and valley leaf guards to be non-combustible, which is why plastic mesh is not a good choice near the bush.

IMG installs Karben aluminium mesh, CSIRO tested with a Spread of Flame Index of 0. For homes rated BAL-40 or BAL-FZ, we supply and fit Karben 1.9 mm stainless steel ember guard. Gutter guard reduces one risk. It does not make a home bushfire proof, so the rest of your preparation still matters.

Frequently asked questions

When should I clean my gutters before bushfire season?

Before the hot, dry weather sets in, and again if your trees have dropped a lot of leaves since. Don’t leave it until a fire is nearby.

Does gutter guard remove the need for cleaning?

It greatly reduces how much builds up in the gutter, but the roof and mesh still benefit from the occasional check, especially under heavy trees.

Is plastic gutter guard OK near the bush?

AS 3959-2018 requires gutter and valley leaf guards in bushfire-prone areas to be non-combustible, so metal mesh is the right choice.

Let us do the roof work

Climbing ladders in the heat is one of the riskier jobs around the house. Illawarra Maintenance Group cleans gutters, valleys and box gutters with safe work method statements on every job, takes drone photos before and after, and bags and removes the debris. See our gutter cleaning in Wollongong and the Illawarra.

Call 0411 389 184 or request a free quote and we will be in touch.