Rain gutters on your home are about more than decoration. They are a crucial element that helps protect your home from problems ranging from mold and mildew to damage to your foundation. They do this by guiding water from rain and snow away from your home.

Gutters are installed at the edge of your roof to catch the water streaming down the surface of the roof. Downspouts are the vertical sections that bring the water to the ground. They direct the water away from your home, so it doesn't accumulate and damage your foundation. You can even install an extended downspout to direct the water to a garden or lawn that needs watering.

Gutter installation can be difficult and dangerous to attempt yourself. Looking for a gutter installer near you will require many of the same steps and considerations that come into play looking for any contractor: research and compare, get estimates, check referrals, compare quotes, and get everything in writing. BBB has more detailed tips for hiring any contractor.

A big question for any home improvement project is how much will l a gutter installation cost. According to Architectural Digest, the price ranges nationally from $3-6 per linear foot of gutters to $10-20 per linear foot. These prices are based on the materials used for the gutters and include labor.

Gutter installers can also replace parts of an existing gutter system. This may become necessary when you replace a part of your roof or notice issues like pooling water, sagging or warped gutters, or cracks in your existing guttering.

Like many parts of your house, you can't install gutters and forget about them. They will need to be cleaned and maintained regularly.

During the fall, leaves, pine needles, and other debris can clog up your gutters and downspouts and keep them from draining properly. This can lead to water spilling over the gutters instead of going through the downspouts and away from your home. So it's important to clean gutters regularly and remove leaves and debris. BBB has other tips for fall maintenance for your home.

The U.S. General Services Administration has guidance for maintaining historic buildings, which can also be relevant to the maintenance of your own home, including:

• Check for interior deterioration and buildup of debris
• Make sure all downspout connections have strainers
• Inspect joints and repair any cracks found
• Clean gutters of debris at least twice a year

FEMA also recommends regular maintenance and cleaning, stating that "well-maintained gutters and downspouts can double or triple the life of a roof drainage system."

One way to make the maintenance of your gutters easier is to install gutter guards or gutter covers. These protective additions keep leaves and debris out while still letting water into the gutters. Some are made of mesh and go right on top of the gutter to let water in and keep debris out. Some are more solid "helmets" that work like a shield that leaves and debris roll over while the water gets directed into the gutter.

The downside to gutter guards is that the debris often still collects, either on top of the mesh or on your roof. So you must still check and clean your roof and gutters to keep everything working correctly.

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