Some folks think that extending their downspouts and keeping their gutters clean will solve their basement water problem. This will always help and we recommend it to our customers. But it will never be a permanent or effective solution to keep your basement dry for a few reasons.

• Wind driven rains blow water against the side of the house and water runs down the side of the house into the backfill on the up-wind side without ever seeing the gutter.
• Leaves blowing onto the roof and ending up in the gutter. Even just a few leaves laying over the downspout can clog a gutter� and cause it to overflow right next to the foundation.
• Snow and ice cause the gutter to overflow in the winter and spring.

So no matter what you do the with the gutters and downspouts, the basement will still leak.