Get matched with top gutter cleaning pros in Mountain View, CA

How you stop water from leaking between your gutters and fascia depends on the cause of the leak. Some leaks can be fixed simply by cleaning out clogged gutters or downspouts. Other leaks require you to seal holes or cracks in your gutters. Meanwhile, some leaks are a structural issue that requires replacing, changing, or adjusting your gutter system.

It's safe to hang Christmas lights from gutters with a few considerations. First, when installing the lights, follow safe ladder-use guidelines and avoid getting onto the roof. Second, for best results and the integrity of your lights, use clips to keep the bulbs away from inside the gutters where they could run into trouble with water or ice. 

Downspouts channel water from your roof and gutters into the ground following a specific route so water doesn’t accumulate around your house’s foundation. Without a downspout, the standing water will wash away material and disrupt the soil, leading to foundation erosion. The standing water will also form ice around your house during cold weather, causing a safety hazard.

If you’re not interested in digging up your yard, but you still need to direct water away from your house, another option is to extend your downspouts further out into the yard. Two methods to do this are:

• Adding a splashguard. This is the simplest method. You can purchase a splashguard at your local hardware store and place it under your downspout. This will act as a funnel to direct water away from your house.

• Add downspout extension at the end. You can also add an additional downspout to the end of the “elbow” as a way to extend the water further out into your yard. Some hardware stores sell downspouts with a flexible extension that you can maneuver around your yard.

The above alternatives are great options if your gutters are above a slab foundation that you wouldn’t want to dig up. One downside to these methods is if your yard slopes back upwards to your home, then the water won’t actually flow away. In which case, burying your downspouts if the best option to avoid flooding and water damage to your home.