If there is a tree anywhere near your house, and its leaves fall onto your roof, you know first-hand the importance of maintaining the rain gutters. Improperly functioning gutters can cause water to pool around the foundation of your home, a situation that can in turn lead to soil erosion and wet basement problems.

There's no need to call in an expert to check whether or not your gutters and downspouts are doing their job. The next time it rains — and San Francisco promises a winter season every year of heavy downpours — simply go outside and watch your roof's drainage system in action. Rainwater should run down the slope of the roof, enter the gutters, flow easily to the downspout, and stream out the bottom a significant distance away from your foundation.

If this is not the case and rainwater instead pours over the edge of the gutters, you most likely have a clog, the most common of gutter problems. Fortunately, the solution is simple: you need only remove the offending leaves and debris. See BHG.com's online article Cleaning Gutters for step-by-step instructions. However, if you cannot easily and safely unblock the gutters yourself, make sure to call in a professional for the job. Particularly if you live in a leafy area, you will want to make gutter upkeep part of your home maintenance routine  — a project you should undertake at least once a year before the winter rains begin. (Note: if you are already tired of clearing out your gutters and are considering installing special covers, see the article Gutter Guard Truth on AskTheBuilder.com.)