Revisions log for Answer #1407

Ideally, when you build them, you should make sure they have snow guards so the snow doesn't slide off the entire roof into the gutter and fall on someone's head below. Snow guards are relatively inexpensive if you install them, and much more expensive if you upgrade them.

I also think a heated gutter system is pretty silly. The gutter should be designed to fit the snow load zone, and there are extra reinforced gutters for mountains as well.