Gutters

Home gutters are pretty simple. They catch the water flowing off your roof, direct it to a downspout, and then channel it away from your house. But when they get clogged, damaged, or just don’t work right, you can wind up with expensive damage to your property.

Some common gutter problems are:

• Clogs: Yes, the fall leaves are gorgeous. Well, they’re lovely on the trees, anyway. They aren’t so pretty when they’re in a wet clump, stuck in your rain gutter. 
• Stagnant gutters: Even though it looks like it is level, your gutters are slightly pitched toward the downspout. That little difference (about a quarter of an inch down for every ten feet) helps gravity move water out. If your gutters were installed improperly or have shifted, the water might pool instead of flowing away. Standing water in your gutter can turn nasty and smelly and may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Short downspouts: Even when your gutters are doing their job, you’ll still have problems if they aren’t long enough. If your downspouts end too close to your house, all that water can wind up in your basement. 
• Gone with the wind: Severe weather can create all kinds of damage, including dislodging your gutters.