"How To Maintain Your Gutters"

Maintaining your gutters (those little troughs on the edge of your roof) can prevent a whole host of problems from setting in, from leaking basements to moisture-damaged siding. Adjustment and cleaning is generally an easy and smart way to keep water away from your home-the true purpose of gutters.

The first thing to do is to make sure your gutters are taking water away from your home, as they're supposed to do. However the water is hitting the ground, whether from an unassisted downspout or a splash block of some type, make sure it enters the soil at no less than two feet from the base of your house. Any less, and you're risking a compromised or flooded basement. To increase the range of your runoff, you can install one or two splash blocks (usually cement pads that catch and channel water away from the base of the house), or you can extend the downspout with an extension available at any hardware store or big-box home store.

Cleaning leaves and other debris out of your gutter in the spring and fall is another good way to keep the water flowing freely away. For this, use a ladder and an old plastic spatula (you can extend it with a broomstick length-these are the kind of situations that call for improvisation). You may also use any of the commercial scoop devices on the market. Either way, make sure your gutters are cleaned at least once a year. Use a flashlight to inspect elbow joints and downspout entries for signs of clogs. (Wood gutters should be treated with linseed oil or a similar product for protection.)

If your gutters are clean but still filling up with water, you probably have a sloping issue. To drain properly, gutters need to slope approximately 1/16 of an inch for every foot of length, in the direction of the downspout.

If your gutter slope seems to be out of whack, adjust the hangers attaching the gutter to the house until the problem is rectified. (Test it with a hose.)

Your gutters may also leak at their joints. This can cause ugly water stains on your house, or even lead to structural damage or basement flooding. If your gutters don't hold water you can patch all seams with caulk or roofing cement. Test for structural integrity, once the product has set, with your trusty hose.

We hope this information will help you to keep those gutters clean! For countless other tips and tricks to home maintenance and repair, we encourage you to read our book, "Do-It-Yourself Handyman Guide." Available now.