October 1, 2007 Cleaning the gutters is an unloved yet necessary - even dangerous - household chore that is inevitably given the lowest priority until gutters are clogged and overflowing with leaves.

Have you been ignoring the aging leaves and muck winter left in your gutters? The debris can lead to serious problems as it decays, degrading the gutters and aging your house as moisture accumulates.

When gutters fill with leaves, sticks and other debris, this can cause clogs and result in water creeping under the roof and sometimes, into the foundation. Clogged gutters can also lead to ice dams ...