We clean our open rain gutters at least five times a year but they still overflow in heavy rains. I’m baffled and am wondering if gutters are really necessary. I have seen homes without them. What is ...

Plugged gutters can cause all sorts of problems for your home. Here’s how to determine how often to clean them.

Overflowing water is the most easily observed. Walk outside in heavy rain and observe whether the roof runoff is getting to the vertical conductor pipes and being channeled away from the foundation.

Q. My aluminum rain gutters overflow in a hard rain, and I’m sure it is because they are not sloped properly, so the water runs to the downspouts. The reason, I think, is because the fascia boards ...

Samantha Hunter is a professional copy editor who has worked with Ms. Magazine, Spin and VH1. She has also written for MarthaStewart.com, Essence.com, Esquire.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, RealSimple.com ...

Dear Jerry: I’m writing in that hopes you can help us with a problem with the gutters on our older Cape Cod-style house. Since the installation of a new roof (tear off) and gutters, we’ve had a ...

Q I have noticed a drip line rut in the yard below my gutters. Is this because of the heavy rains? Are my gutters too small? I have standard gutters, and they and the drains are not clogged. A ...