El Niño Winter Prep
Get Your Gutters Ready Before the Rain Arrives
NOAA has issued an El Niño Advisory, with the strongest effects expected over Southern California between November and January. We've installed and repaired seamless rain gutters across Los Angeles since 2012, and the most common thing we find before a wet winter is a system that isn't sized for the water it has to carry.
We can't tell you how much rain will fall this winter. We can tell you whether your gutters can handle it.
Why El Niño Matters for Your Gutters
Every inch of rain landing on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons, and all of it leaves through your gutters and downspouts.
On a typical 1,800 square foot LA home, an average winter of roughly 14 inches means about 15,700 gallons. Strong El Niño years have historically brought 150–200% of normal rainfall — closer to 27,000 gallons on that same home. That's over 11,000 extra gallons through the same downspouts.
A 5-inch K-style gutter on a 2×3 downspout handles an average LA season fine. Push that volume through it and the failure shows up as overflow at the corners, water pooling at your foundation, and fascia rot you don't find until spring. A 6-inch gutter carries roughly 40% more, and a 3×4 downspout roughly doubles a 2×3.
What We Check in a Free Inspection
Free, no obligation, written estimate within 48 hours:
- Whether your gutters are big enough for your roof. Most LA homes have 5-inch gutters and 2×3 downspouts because that's the default, not because anyone measured.
- Whether the water is moving. Gutters need to fall about a quarter inch every ten feet. A flat gutter holds standing water, and water weighs eight pounds a gallon — that's what pulls a run off the fascia.
- What's living in there. Not just leaves. Roofing granules off an aging composition roof pack into a sludge water can't push through, and nests plug the elbow while the trough still looks clean.
- Where it's already leaking. Seams, corners, end caps, and the downspout outlet. Nearly all of it is repairable.
- Where the water goes once it's out of the downspout. A perfect gutter can still dump thousands of gallons two feet from your foundation.
- The wood behind the gutter. Once fascia is soft, new gutters have nothing solid to attach to.
Fire Season, Then El Niño
LA is heading into a strong El Niño winter behind burn-scarred hillsides. In a fire-adjacent neighborhood, both problems share the same roofline, and one visit covers both. Ask about pairing your gutter work with our Metal Roof Fire Protection Package — Class A fire-rated metal roofing, enclosed eaves, and fire-resistant soffit and fascia covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is El Niño supposed to arrive in Los Angeles?
NOAA upgraded to an El Niño Advisory in June 2026, meaning conditions are already present rather than forecast. It's expected to strengthen through fall and peak between November and January, with the heaviest storms typically December through March.
What should I expect this winter?
A wetter, stormier than average winter with elevated flood and landslide risk. Strong El Niño years have historically brought 150–200% of normal rainfall — but it's no guarantee. The very strong El Niño of 2015–16 was one of the driest years on record for Los Angeles.
When should I get my gutters inspected?
September through November, before the first real storm — once the rain starts, every gutter contractor in LA books out. We recommend cleaning twice a year, or once a year with leaf guards.
Do I need to replace my gutters, or can they be repaired?
Usually repaired. Leaking seams, broken elbows, crushed sections, and sagging runs are all common repairs. Replacement makes sense when the system is genuinely undersized, when the fascia has rotted, or when enough seams have failed that patching stops being economical.
Should I upgrade to 6-inch gutters?
It depends on roof area, pitch, and how many downspouts serve each run. For large roofs, steep pitches, or long runs, it's often the more meaningful upgrade. We'll measure and tell you whether it's worth it.
Do you serve my area?
Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties, including the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, the foothills, and the coastal cities. San Diego inquiries go to our partner, Gutters Plus Inc.
Get a Free Estimate
We'd rather look at your gutters in September than repair your fascia in February. We'll assess your system, explain what we find in plain terms, and give you a written estimate within 48 hours.
Trusted by homeowners and businesses throughout LA to do a job that meets and exceeds expectations.
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