Gutters in the Seattle area are used all the time. Keeping your gutters clean and functioning is an important home maintenance that should be done annually. Water should flow off your roof and into the downspout so that it can be directed into your rain barrels, off your property, or onto the ground. On the other hand some gutter downspouts go directly into the ground and underneath yards/concrete. When these particular types of downspouts get clogged with leaves and debris it can be difficult and expensive to unclog underground. An inexpensive and preventative solution is to install a downspout screen. It is a basic screen that is stuffed in the downspout to block major leaves and gunk from getting clogged in the elbow of the downspout and more importantly underground.