With spring on the way (Yeah), gutters and downspouts are going to be the most important system on the exterior of your home soon.  Effectively removing the water, by the gallons, from the roof of your house is the most important issue to a dry and structurally sound foundation.

Now lets take a look at some comparisons.

These photos shows you an example of a gutter system that is not only easier to keep free a debris, but are in fact quite clean.  This is from a heavily treed area as well.

This is to the right of the downspout.

This is to the left of the downspout.

This is a downspout connection to the underground drainage.

Now lets take a look at some not so good gutters and downspouts.  Its no wonder this basement has a creek flowing across the floor to the drain.  Serious foundation problems are sure to follow soon.

A composting system is not the best use of a gutter.  Possibly even some earthworms in there somewhere.

This is in the other direction.

Here is where what water that stays in the gutter tries to get out at the downspout connection.

Now, the water that does manage to find its way to the downspout and freely flows to the ground, here is what it finds at the end.  A more direct route to the foundation or even possibly the basement floor.

Concrete blocks have many functions other than to support your entire house, but they do not make very effective downspout water diverters.

It is obviously more important than many homeowners realize to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and free flowing as well as properly diverted a minimum of 6' to 10' away from the house or into underground drainage pipes that are also free flowing and clear of debris.

OH NO, Here comes some more rain!!