Gutters and downspouts have two main functions; first they protect the walls of the house from water coming off of the roof and secondly to prevent the build up of water on the ground below.  The most important function of the gutter and downspout system is to keep the basement dry by redirecting water away from the house’s foundation.  If there is less water build up around the foundation there is less of a chance that the basement foundation will leak.  The job of the gutter and downspout system is to collect all of the water and direct it into a drain or at least six feet away from the foundation.   The two most common sizes of gutters are four and five inches.  Four inch gutters are good for smaller roofs but five inch gutters are better because of their capability to carry more water.  A larger gutter size will also prevent over spillage from the roof.   

Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned at least twice a year, preferably before the snow fall and again in the spring.  If you live in an area with more trees you should inspect your gutters more often as they can clog easily with leaves and twigs.

Gutters and downspouts should be checked for blockage, leakage and areas requiring re-securing or re-sloping.  Downspout seams need to be checked for splitting.  A split downspout is often plugged with debris.  Debris can cause water to accumulate in the downspout which then freezes in the winter months and then splits it open.

The gutter and downspout system is one of the most neglected parts of the exterior.  When replacing your gutters and downspouts get a professional to do this work.  As with any job that you may contract out, make sure that you get at least three quotes.