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If you want to avoid burying your downspouts, several alternatives can help direct water away from your home's foundation. One option is to connect a rain barrel to your downspout. During a storm, the barrel collects water that you can later use for irrigating your lawn or garden. Another common solution is to install an above-ground downspout extension. This can be done in a couple of ways:

• Splash Guards: Placing a splash guard, available at most hardware stores, under your downspout can act as a simple funnel to direct water away from the house.

• Downspout Extensions: You can add an extension to the end of the downspout's elbow to carry water further into your yard. Some extensions are flexible, allowing you to maneuver them around landscaping.

These above-ground solutions are particularly useful if your home has a slab foundation that you cannot dig up. However, they have limitations. An extension may not move water as far from your home as an underground system. More importantly, if your yard slopes back toward your house, these methods will be ineffective, and burying your downspouts remains the best option to prevent potential flooding and water damage.

Water should not be dripping behind your gutters. Rain dripping between your gutters and the fascia might indicate that the gutters are misaligned with the fascia board or there are loose screws in the gutters, allowing water to pass through. Start by checking for these issues and make repairs ASAP.

The cost to clean gutters usually ranges from  $120 to $230, depending on the type, length, and location. Seamless gutters usually come in at the lower end of that range since the lack of seams means there are fewer places for debris to build up. In fact, seamless gutter cleanings usually cost 10% to 25% less than sectional gutter cleanings.

Properly installed gutters should be able to function normally in heavy rains. Allowing water to overflow can cause water damage around your home's basement or foundation. If the overflow is caused by a simple clog, paying a gutter cleaning cost of $125 to $250 may be enough to get the gutters running clear again. If there's a larger issue, you may need to repair or replace your gutters.