Adding a gutter system or updating your current gutter system can do wonders for creating waterflow off of your roof. Waterflow is important because the better you can get water off of your roof, the less likely that there will be a leak or significant damage to your home. There are many reasons why you would want to add a gutter system to your home. One reason would be to help water run away from the house. This aspect is very important in that if your roof eaves are shedding water, this water can be wearing away at the ground next to your home, making your basement more susceptible to leaking or causing foundation issues. Having a gutter system can be beneficial in that it collects precipitation and can direct it away from your home, averting this potential problem. Another reason to install a gutter system would be to keep water from running off onto high traffic areas like entrances or walking areas. This is especially important for times in between freezes where roof water run-off could start forming dangerous ice patches on places like sidewalks and by home entrances that could potentially cause harm to people or property. For homes that are located in wooded areas or have trees around them that lose their leaves every year (like oak trees) might want to consider installing some sort of top cover on their gutter system. This can include a screen system that is installed over the top of your gutter that blocks any leaves or needles from causing clogs. Also, there are covers that are called helmets that allow water to flow into your gutter but not leaves and needles. These can be retrofitted to your existing gutter system and can save you the inconvenience of cleaning your gutters every fall. Keeping your gutters free and clear of debris is important because water build-up in your gutters can cause problems for your home, especially in the winter. Water build-up can attribute to ice dam formation in the colder months and cause your roof to leak even on the coldest days. For more on ice dam prevention visit here.