Rain gutters take a lot of abuse: rushing water during rainstorms, exposure to weather extremes, heavy loads of snow in the coldest climes, clogs of fallen leaves, and the general ravages of time.

Half-round gutters are less likely to clog than K-style gutters but hold less water. They’re great for areas that receive low to moderate rainfall and heavy tree debris. Half-round gutters are ...

Others things on Lou’s to-do list this week: Get your gutters cleaned, apply winterizing fertilizer, and clean the screen on your dishwasher.

There are all types of gutter guards. Good ones keep your gutters clean and can eliminate flooding and damage to your home. But Consumer Reports' tests find some don’t work well.