Trouble with standing water around the foundation of your home can cause damage. For that reason it becomes necessary to divert that water using something like a gutter system. Gutter systems and downspouts can be installed yourself quite easily. A complete gutter installation kit can be purchased at many of the home improvement stores. These stores will also have the individual parts should you want to design your own gutter system instead.

Bear in mind this is a task that should be done by somebody handy around the home. If you are not the handy type this would be a project best left for a professional. If you are handy type then make sure your water problems are not from a broken pipe or some other type of leak before starting the installation. Nothing would be worse then spending a lot of time and money on the installation of gutters and downspouts only to have the same problem at the end of the project. Once you are satisfied the problems are from rain the next step would be to plan out a good gutter system.

There are several types of worksheets available to assist you with the planning. Using a worksheet comes in handy because it will suggest the various fittings and couplers that will be needed. Design your gutter and downspout system so the water will exit the last downspout at a place which takes advantage of the yards natural downward slope. This will maximize water removal from around the foundation. There is an important step that many folks do not do. This step is to add an extension on the last elbow of your downspout near the ground.

The length of this extension will vary depending on how far away the water needs to be diverted. Not adding this last extension only moves the problem from where it is now to a new location. Make sure this piece is added to move the water completely away from the foundation. Another option would be to tie this extension into any existing yard drains. The installation of gutters and downspouts can be highly effective at solving standing water problems around your home.

Keep in mind a gutter and downspout system is a maintenance item. That means it becomes necessary to clean your gutters once or twice per year. There are gutter cleaning services that will come out and clean them. Another way to clean them is with a special hose attachment.