Clean gutters annually to avoid clogs in pop-up drains

Q. I had a contractor install pop-up gutter drains. They were supposed to be dug 10 feet out. He only did this for one at the back of the house. The other three are only 4 to 5 feet out. I wasn't aware of this and wouldn't have realized this wasn't proper. I am now convinced that this is the reason that the gutters at the front overflow. Am I right?

A. Having the buried drains closer to the home's foundation will not cause the gutters to overflow. As long as the drains are at least 6 feet from the foundation and the yard slopes away from the home, the pop-up drains are properly installed.

Gutters overflow because the drains or the gutters themselves are clogged. Gutters should be cleaned and maintained annually; if you live in a heavily wooded area, the gutters might need to be cleaned every four to six months. Leaf-clogged gutters can lead to foundation flooding and possible structural damage, so it is important to keep the gutters free of debris.

When working from the roof area or from a ladder, make sure you stay clear of all overhead wiring. If you must lean a ladder against the gutter, use a short piece of a 2-by-4-inch board placed inside the gutter to prevent damage from the ladder.

Make sure the feet of the ladder are on solid footing and that it does not lean to the left or to the right. Wear rubber gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and eye protection when scooping debris from the gutter.

Rather than dump the debris on your lawn, use a small bucket hung from a rung on the ladder using an old coat hanger bent to make a hook.

Cover shrubs and flowers with a tarp to prevent damage from loose and falling debris. Once the gutters are clean, use a garden hose to flush the downspouts until they are running freely.

If the downspouts are clogged, they will need to be removed, cleaned and reinstalled. After the gutters are clean and have had time to dry, you should caulk and seal all joints and seams against future leaks. It would be a good idea to install a leaf-guard system to prevent leaf and debris from getting into the gutters in the future.

Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier and Press, P.O. Box 268, Evansville, Ind. 47702 or email him at d.Barnett@insightbb.com.