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Gutter guards work in heavy rain, but perhaps not as well. The main purpose of gutter guards is to protect your gutters from getting clogged with debris, which can be carried (or worsened) by heavy rain. However, a clogged gutter isn’t the only reason rain isn’t traveling through your gutter properly. Other reasons include roof shingles extending past your gutters, improperly installed gutters, or incorrect gutter sizes. 

If you suspect you have any of these other gutter issues, it may be more cost-effective to repair your gutters first and see if that solves the problem before investing in gutter guards.

Several options for hanging Christmas lights won't damage gutters. Using shingle clips avoids any hardware contact with them, and using plastic gutter clips minimizes the likelihood of scratching gutters. Remember not to rest a ladder, especially a metal one, against the gutters, and use a ladder stand-off device or stabilizer if you need to use an extension ladder. 

A heated gutter system can help prevent ice formation and save you money in water damage from leaks and other repairs. The cost to install heated gutters runs between $500 and $1,300, depending on your home’s size. Heated gutters are worth it if you live in areas with harsh winters with a lot of snow and ice, and you also have several tall trees near your home that drop a lot of debris. 

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.