Manchester NH based New England Gutter Systems urges New England homeowners to check their gutters before spring storm season, and explains why a 6-inch upgrade could prevent costly foundation and basement damage.

MANCHESTER, NH February 27, 2026 A Manchester gutter company is warning New Hampshire homeowners that the standard 5-inch gutters on most houses in the state were not built for the storms hitting the region today.

New England Gutter Systems, a family-owned seamless gutter company serving communities across New Hampshire, says it has seen a steady rise in service calls from homeowners dealing with overflowing gutters, rotting fascia boards, and wet basements all caused by drainage systems that simply can't keep up with today's rainfall.


NH Storms Are Getting Worse And Gutters Are Paying the Price

New Hampshire is getting more rain than it used to, and it's arriving faster. According to NOAA data, extreme rainfall events in the Northeast have increased more than 50% compared to historical averages. Storms that once spread rain over several days now drop an inch or more in a single hour.

Winter storm Fern is a perfect example of what New Hampshire's future winters will loos like. Great for the ski slopes but not for gutters and roofs.

A standard 5-inch gutter holds about 1.2 gallons of water per foot. A 6-inch gutter holds about 2.0 gallons per foot 67% more capacity. When a heavy storm hits, that difference determines whether water flows safely away from your home or pours over the edge and pools at your foundation.

"What we're seeing on job sites tells the story," said Dan Foote, owner of New England Gutter Systems. "Homeowners call us after a bad storm and their basement is damp, their mulch beds are washed out, and their fascia is starting to rot. In many cases, the gutters weren't broken they were just too small for the rain we're getting now."


Which New Hampshire Homes Are Most at Risk

New England Gutter Systems says four types of properties are most vulnerable to undersized gutters:

Homes with steep roofs. Colonial, cape, and gambrel-style homes are common across Southern NH. A steep roof sends water to the gutter faster and harder than a low-slope roof. At a 6/12 pitch standard for many NH homes a roof drains like it's 30% larger than it actually is.

Seacoast properties. Back-to-back nor'easters and heavy coastal rains have become more frequent along the NH coast. Hampton Beach and surrounding towns saw serious neighborhood flooding in January 2024 from fast-moving storm systems.

Lakes Region and North Country homes. High-elevation areas like Laconia, Wolfeboro, and communities near the White Mountains face a brutal freeze-thaw cycle. Small gutters fill with ice and slush, leaving snowmelt nowhere to go except under the shingles.

Homes near trees. New Hampshire is 84% forested. Standard 2x3-inch downspouts clog quickly with maple seeds in spring and leaves in fall often right before the biggest storms of the season hit.



What a Proper Upgrade Looks Like

New England Gutter Systems recommends replacing undersized 5-inch gutters with seamless 6-inch K-style gutters paired with 3x4-inch downspouts. This combination increases water capacity by 67% and doubles the speed at which water exits the system.

Key features of the company's installations include:

Seamless construction gutters are cut on-site to fit each home with no joints that can crack or leak in cold weather
3x4-inch downspouts double the exit capacity of standard 2x3-inch downspouts and far less likely to clog
Reinforced hangers spaced closer together to handle New Hampshire snow loads without sagging
Micro-mesh gutter guards — keep leaves, pine needles, and maple seeds out while letting water through freely
Precision pitch installation every run is set at the correct angle so water drains completely and doesn't pool or freeze

"A 6-inch seamless system costs about 20% more than a standard setup," Dan Foote commercial lead said. "But a single foundation repair in New Hampshire can run $5,000 to $25,000. The upgrade pays for itself the first time it handles a storm the old gutters couldn't."


Free Estimates Available Across New Hampshire

New England Gutter Systems is scheduling free on-site estimates for homeowners throughout Southern NH, the Seacoast, the Lakes Region, and Central NH. Every estimate includes a roof pitch measurement, a review of the existing drainage system, and a written recommendation.

To schedule a free estimate:

603-410-9719
[email protected]
193 Auburn St, Manchester, NH 03103
www.newenglandguttersystmes.com