Once it starts raining, roofers get calls from people who say their roof is leaking. But many times, it’s simply clogged up gutters causing the problem, according to David Imhof, Manager of Bay 101 Roofing, a Diamond Certified company. Everything from baseballs, lemons, pet toys, pine needles, and leaves can cause a blockage. Squirrels scurry around your roof, dropping nuts and twigs that float down into your gutters. So get out your garden hose now. Test by squirting water up into the gutter to check for flow. If it’s just a trickle, then take a closer look for drips and leaks at the seams. After you clear the gutters, consider installing gutter guards, which will keep out most debris. Read more

By Matt Solis, Senior Editor

The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep all materials in your home as clean and dry as possible. Make sure your house is well ventilated with a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. To reduce indoor humidity, vent bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and dehumidifiers; increase ventilation; and use exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing or cleaning. To further protect your home from mold growth, consider the following tips:

• Standing water sources promote mold and bacterial growth, so it’s important to cover sump pumps, enclose fish tanks and ensure basement drains (for air conditioning hoses,

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