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Buried downspouts can freeze during cold weather as cold water runs through them. If you’ve discovered your downspouts are frozen, you can carefully pour hot water down the top of the downspout to defrost them. If that doesn’t work, you may need to dig your downspout back up. Avoid trying to break the ice from the exterior using a hammer as this can cause cracks and damage to your downspout.

To avoid freezing the future, consider adding a heating cable to the exterior, which can adjust heat based on the surrounding temperature.

Heated gutters are significantly easier to maintain than standard gutters. While you will have to check to make sure they’re functioning properly and aren’t accumulating leaves and other tree debris, you will never have to worry about ice dams, icicle formation, or related gutter damage and repairs, which can get expensive. Heated gutters will require an upfront investment, but it might very well be worth it for the time and potential money you’ll save down the road on gutter maintenance.

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.

While not required for aluminum gutters, most people find gutter guards worth it because gutter guards can help preserve the life span of new gutters by preventing buildup and debris that can cause clogs. Gutter guards can be made of plastic, stainless steel, or aluminum. The important thing to know about gutter guards is that they are not meant to replace routine cleaning and maintenance. However, they do provide one of the best ways to prevent water damage.