Why Is Dust Collecting Inside My Gutters?

If you’ve lived in Phoenix for any amount of time, you already know the dust here has a mind of its own. It settles everywhere—your car, your windows, your patio chairs—and somehow finds its way into the smallest corners of the home. Gutters aren’t any different. A lot of Phoenix homeowners reach out to CR Gutters, Inc.™ after taking a peek inside the gutter and seeing a layer of fine, powdery dust that they didn’t even know was there. From the ground, everything can look perfectly clean. But inside the gutters is a different story. Even a light breeze can lift the tiny dust particles high enough to enter and sit in the gutter channels.

Why Phoenix Gutters Collect Dust So Easily

Phoenix dust is its own category—lighter, finer, almost silky. It doesn’t fall in clumps the way dirt does in other cities. Instead, it travels like smoke. CR Gutters, Inc.™ has opened gutters that looked spotless on the outside only to find a layer of desert dust coating the bottom like flour on a cutting board.

The trouble usually starts when the first bit of rain hits. After weeks or months of dry weather, all that dust turns into a thin mud the moment water touches it. Then it slides toward the downspout and slows everything down. Sometimes Phoenix homeowners notice the issue only because water begins backing up during a rainstorm.

The dust that turns to mud can stick near the outlets and create small blockages that hamper the system’s functioning. The issue usually isn’t the rain—it’s everything that built up before it.

Stopping Dust From Becoming a Bigger Mess

Keeping the gutters clear in Phoenix doesn’t require constant work, but they do need a little support. A gentle rinse every few months is usually enough to move the dust along before it becomes something heavier. CR Gutters, Inc.™ often recommends checking the gutters quarterly, especially for homes in open areas or along roadways where winds blow dust directly across the roofline.

If you’ve already seen mud near the downspout or noticed water spilling over, the dust has probably compacted. Clearing it early keeps your stucco and foundation safe from overflow. Some Phoenix homeowners add guards or strainers—not to block dust entirely, which is impossible here, but to stop the heavier clumps from clogging the outlets once the mud forms. A quick look inside before monsoon season can save you a lot of cleanup later.

Typical Costs in Phoenix

• Light clean: $150 to $250
• Full clean: $300 to $400

The price depends on how much dust has accumulated and since when.

Let Someone Look at Your Gutters Before a Problem Develops

If you have spotted dust and mud on gutters or slow draining after storms, get ahead of it now. Call (602) 671-3476 to reach CR Gutters, Inc.™. We’ll check your Phoenix home, clear out whatever the desert has carried in, and help your gutters stay ready for the next rainfall—whenever it finally shows up.