When do gutters NOT function properly?

Gutters are designed to efficiently collect and channel water away from the pool area. When they are flooded, their ability to perform this function is compromised. Flooding can overwhelm a gutter system, leading to inadequate drainage. If the gutters are full of water or debris, they cannot effectively manage excess water, which can result in overflow or improper drainage. This situation can create safety hazards around the pool area and can also lead to structural issues over time due to water pooling.

In contrast, a newly filled pool, while it may temporarily cause the gutters to be less effective until the water settles, doesn't inherently prevent them from functioning. Similarly, dirty gutters can impede performance, but they remain capable of performing their basic function, albeit less efficiently. Well-maintained gutters, by definition, will always function as intended. Thus, the scenario where gutters are flooded represents a clear failure of their operational capacity.