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We rarely think of rain gutters as an interesting topic of conversation to trot out at cocktail parties, but they’re more fascinating than you may think! Don’t believe us? Here are seven rain gutter facts for your entertainment:

1. The rain gutter as we know it today was invented in the early 1900s.
2. Prior to the 19th century, rain gutters were made from wood. Today, we can find them in plastic, aluminum, and steel, and most North American rain gutters are seamless.
3. Ancient Greeks and Romans used gargoyles on their buildings to direct rain away from the important parts of the building. Many believe gargoyles were also used to ward off evil spirits.
4. The standing water in your gutter, if improperly installed, is a breeding ground for mosquitos.
5. Lots of words rhyme with gutter, but none rhyme with eave trough (which is a more technical term for rain gutters).
6. Regular gutter cleaning can kill you, if you’re not careful! According to the CPSC, there are 164,000 injuries in the U.S. every year related to ladders.
7. Just ask a Utah rain gutter technician: hundreds, or maybe thousands, of children’s toys are found in gutters annually! You’ll mostly find balls up there, but also Frisbees, badminton birdies, Barbies, toy cars, and more! How they all get up there, we’re not sure.

It’s interesting tidbits like these that make our employees not only great Utah rain gutter technicians, but scintillating conversation partners as well!

If your Utah rain gutters are painted, the paint will probably wear thin over time, so you’ll need to touch them up periodically. The process is fairly straightforward as long as you give yourself plenty of time to finish the job. This is how it works:

1. First, remove leaves and debris from the gutters. Then, use a paint scraper to scrape off loose paint, holding it at a 45-degree angle and working its edge under the paint.
2. Use mild soap, water, and a scrub brush to clean the gutters. Go back over the gutters with the scraper, removing any loose paint exposed while cleaning. Give the gutters some time to dry.
3. Take a steel-bristled brush and brush the gutters, removing remaining rust and flakes of paint. Brush the rust and loose paint vigorously. Use a damp rag to wipe away debris. Sand uneven areas with medium grit sandpaper.
4. Take a clear acrylic bonding or oil-based primer and apply the primer with a good quality brush. Avoid brush strokes to the extent possible. After applying one or two coats of primer (make sure you allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next). Give the primer 24 hours to dry.
5. Paint the gutters with outdoor acrylic paint (most paint or home improvement stores carry 100% acrylic paints). Apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat, since thin coats are more durable and will provide a smoother finish. Give each coat plenty of time to dry before applying the next.

Utah gets - on average - 15 inches of rainfall a year. That’s fewer than all but seven states, though it puts Utah smack dab in the middle of the other mountain west states. It’s certainly not the desert climate of an Arizona or Nevada, but it also places Utah ahead of states like Wyoming and Montana.

Western states have always struggled with water issues, yet over the years they have been quite innovative in developing methods of water storage and conservation. Dams dot western rivers, creating reservoirs of water. Most of us look at these manmade lakes as great recreation outlets, and various watercraft take over the lakes throughout the summer months. But their true value lies in the fact that they act as huge natural water barrels, holding onto the water that otherwise would rush on by with the rivers and streams. It is these reservoirs that allow farming to thrive in Utah.

This water storage and usage system not only works well for farmers, but can be a boon for Utah’s backyard gardening as well. Instead of damming rivers to form lakes, Utahans can capture the water that runs out of their rain gutters. If Utah rain gutters were set up to save water, it could amount to over 8,000 gallons of water a year. The money savings are obvious. Also of note is that often rain water is better for plants than water from the garden hose. Perhaps best of all is how easy it can be to get started. A simple water collection barrel at the end of a gutter down-spout will get the ball rolling. Equally important is to monitor your rain gutters, keeping them clean and functioning normally. It’s a simple system which can bring incredible results to every Utah home.

Rain chains are an aesthetically pleasing alternative to a traditional downspout and create a beautiful aural effect when water flows through their lightly clinking links. Rain chains come in a variety of models – either a series of metal cups through which the water may rush, or a simple, copper chain. Rainwater adheres to the metal of the chain and can be directed to any location you choose.

Though they’ve only recently become popular, rain chains actually have a long history. Rain chains first came into use hundreds of years ago in feudal Japan. They were originally known as “kusari doi,” or, literally, “chain gutter.” Gardeners would use chains to direct the rain flowing from both temples and domestic residences. They would then collect the water in a rain barrel and use it to water their gardens.

In 1998, at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, westerners took notice of the beauty of rain chains for the first time. Ever since, rain chains have spread far and wide as a popular way to improve the aesthetic of a home and conserve water. Especially in dry environments such as Utah’s, a rain chain can go a long way toward preserving the environment and lowering your utility costs: with a barrel at the base of your chain, you can save water for household needs, including watering your lawn or garden. To find out more or to have chain installed on your home, contact Ace Gutters, your Utah rain gutter specialists.

It’s springtime in Utah! It’s the season for heavy rains, snowmelt, overflowing gutters, and flooded basements. This time of year, properly maintaining your gutters is a must, because improper care for your gutters can lead to trenching, soil erosion and landscape deterioration.

Come May, many of us are getting out our ladders and making the treacherous trip to the roof to unclog those gutters.  Sometimes, gutters must be taken apart completely to unstop the worst of the clogs.

All of this pain and anguish can be stopped with one simple prevention measure: installing leaf covers. Leaf covers allow water to flow through rain gutters while keeping leaves and other debris out. This means you no longer need to ascend that wobbly ladder each spring to scoop the goop. There are three main styles of leaf covers:

1. Real Gutter Cover by Raytec: this porous metal sheet sits squarely on top of your gutters and is only slightly visible from the street. Its pores allow water to flow in while ensuring that leaves stay out.
2. The Rain Filter: virtually invisible, this foam pad fits snugly inside the gutter itself. It allows water to soak through into the gutter and flow properly toward a downspout, leaving leaves on top.
3. In the LeafSlugger system, rainwater adheres to the metal of the LeafSlugger (which looks like a clean extension of your roofline), and flows squarely into your gutters. All the while, bulky leaves and debris are guaranteed (under lifetime warranty) to stay out.

Get more details on staying unclogged from your experts in Utah rain gutters!