Monthly Archives: July 2015

Clogged Gutter Cause Mosquito Problems


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Clogged Gutter Cause Mosquito Problems Clogged Gutter Cause Mosquito Problems. Have you noticed that there has been an influx of mosquitoes around your home? Do not have any sort of body of water around you? Look up, your gutters could be causing this infestation. Mosquitoes drawn to standing water. Clogged gutters are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. To clear up the problem you will need to unclog your gutter or downspout. Standing water gone. The mosquito problem clear up.  You can also use insecticides come in a variety of different delivery methods, from hand- or power-spraying to yard foggers to time-release misting systems. Many of today’s mosquito-fighting products use ingredients that are easier on the environment than their predecessors. Keep gutters cleaned and maintained. If you don’t have the time or resources to clean them out contact a local professional to do the work for you.  Also maintaining your landscape will help prevent puddles forming in your yard. Let your gutter cleaning worries be behind you! For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Gutters & Guards experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Gutter Maintenance Tip #24 – Gutter Scoop Tool


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Gutter Scoop Tool When cleaning gutters it’s best to wear protective gloves but you should also use a gutter scoop tool as well. A Gutter scoop tool will get out all of the leafy debris in your gutters as well as some of the more wet debris. You can find them at any hardware store. We do warn you to not use a metal scoop because it can damage the bottom of the gutters as well as the seams. A metal scoop can damage the bottom of a gutter by scraping against the bottom and this can allow rust to start to form. If the bottom is already rusting this will speed it up. As for the seams, it can damage the caulking meant to keep leaks from forming. If you are looking for a professional to clean your gutters for you, they should already be using non-harmful methods to clean gutters. Give them a call and be wary if they use a metal scoop to clean your gutters. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Hail Damaged Gutter : What To Do


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Hail Damaged Gutter : What To Do Hail Damaged Gutter. This time of year hail with thunderstorms is common. Though we may not think that they are very dangerous, the amount of damage they can do is quite amazing. NOAA estimates that in the past 10 years property hail damage has ranged from $482.9 million to $2.96 Billion, and since hail lasts an average of 15 minutes that’s a hail of a lot of damage. Pardon our pun. Hail Storms can damage your roof, automobiles, and other property. The larger the hail the more damage it can cause but even the smallest hail can cause quite the damage. When the wind blows it, not only your roof can be damaged but your gutters as well.  If you encounter this during a hail storm we have some steps you can take to get it fixed. Before Any Storm Take some pictures of your roof as it is now. You’ll want to plan ahead to be consistent about photographing the same 3 to 4 sections of your roof over time. Be sure to digitally date the photos and keep them printed out in your files and stored digitally on an external hard drive. Contact your insurance company and find out how many “impacts per square” constitutes hail damage under your homeowner policy. Generally, it’s between 5-10 impacts per square. Keep this information, along with the contact person’s details with your homeowner policy. After the storm blows over inspect your home and automobile. Look at your roofing shingle, look for dings and damage on your car and gutters (both are metal). For Non Visible Damage Take and date photos of the actual hail from that storm. Keep a file or an Excel spreadsheet that tracks rainfall afterward. Occasionally check your gutters (and photograph them) to stay on top of roof shingle grit deterioration, a key sign that there was damage from the hail storm. Start checking for signs of exposed asphalt in your roof (that used to be covered by shingle grit). If the signs of damage are there, you’ll likely notice them after 4-6 months. At this point, you may want to contact your insurance company. For Visible Damage If the damage is pronounced right at the time of the storm, again, take and date pictures of the actual hail from the event for your records. You may want to ask your insurance company to send out an adjuster to review the damage. Based upon the number of impacts, you may qualify to have your roof replaced under your homeowner policy. If you can show before pictures to the adjuster, you may help set a reference point, again furthering your claim. Hail storms can damage gutters and gutter guard systems too. Hail can come down with such tremendous force.  It can punch a hole right through the gutter. Having to be replaced. If have to replace your gutter guard, it’s a great opportunity to look at the latest advancements and not just replace it with the same product you had in the past. You’ll likely find lots of debris in the gutter, choose a system that will keep out even the shingle grit going forward.   For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Gutters &  Guards experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Are Gutter Guards A Good Investment?


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Are Gutter Guards A Good Investment? Are Gutter Guards A Good Investment? Cleaning your gutters is not a fun task. It’s messy, laborious and a bit scary being up that high. If you find yourself cleaning out your gutters more than twice a year we have a solution that will help. Install gutter guards. Now don’t get us wrong, installing gutter guards will NOT mean that you never have to clean out your gutters but it does mean clogging and cleaning are less frequent. Which can be a huge help when it seems like your always cleaning them out. Gutter guards are designed to act as a filter over your gutters in an attempt to block debris from entering your gutter without inhibiting its ability to draw water away from the roof. We have a small list of pros and cons that can help you weigh in if installing gutter guards would be beneficial to your home. Pros Less Frequent Gutter Cleanings (should only be 2x a year) Less Chance Of A Clog Keeps Large Debris Out (some keep small debris out as well) Looks Great Much More Efficient Than Gutters Without Guards   Cons Price You will still have to clean your gutters out (but it is less frequent) For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Gutter Maintenance Tips #23 – Rake Off Roof


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Rake Off Roof during gutter cleanings Rake Off Roof. Cleaning your gutters is a very laborious task. When you are cleaning your gutters, make sure to rake off roof. This prevents debris from ending up in your gutters after you already spend your last weekend cleaning gutters. Also any debris left of the roof can lead to water damming up in valleys or around chimney, which can lead to erosion and roof leaks over time. Save yourself the time and money now by taking the time to rake off roof. If you do not have to right tools or feel uneasy about raking the debris off your roof, please hire a professional to do it for you. If you are going to DIY please remember to use proper ladder safety, wear protective eye wear and protective gloves as well. You never know what could be hiding in all that debris. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Summer Gutter Overflow


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Summer Gutter Overflow Summer may seem like an off season for your gutters but in reality it’s just as busy for them as fall. With all the summer thunder and rain storms we get it mean that your gutters are expected to handle large amounts of rain. These storms can also bring leaves, sticks and other debris as well which can clog your gutters and cause overflow problems. If it seems like your gutters are overflowing when the rain is not that heavy and there is no clog in your gutters or downspouts you may need larger downspouts to help the gutters drain faster. A typical 5″ gutter can hold 1.2 gallons per 1′. So if you have a 10′ run of 5″ gutters that can hold up to 12 gallons of water! If you live in an area with a lot of rain fall and have 6″ gutters that can hold 2 gallons every 1′. So 10′ if 6″ gutters can hold 20 gallons of water. The average rainfall for Lynchburg in July is 4.37″ and that is less than a gallon. 5″ gutters should do the job. There are some instances where the rain fall is too heavy for your gutters to catch everything. That is not going hurt anything and there is not anything you can do but if you notice that is overflows EVERY time that is a problem and you should contact a professional to address it. During summer months it’s crucial to have properly working gutters to avoid damage to your home and landscaping. You should think about installing a gutter guard system because it not only protects your gutters from bad clogs it allows for just water to flow through them.There are a few different types of gutter guards systems available today so make sure to do some research and find the perfect one for your home. We suggest taking a look at the options we provide. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Gutter Maintenance Tips #22 – Inspect Ladder Before Using It


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Inspect Ladder Before Using It When you pull out your ladder to do your bi-yearly gutter clean, inspect ladder before using it to ensure that they are no defects, dents or loose parts before climbing up on it. If your ladder has screws and bolts make sure they are all tightened, for a step ladder look to make sure extension-hinge arms are fully extended and locked in place. If the ladder looks good and safe, it’s safe to use. When you put your ladder into place, lightly jump on the first rung to make sure the ground is secure. That will let you know if the soil is too soft or if there is a gopher hole. If it’s uneven add a 1/2″ piece of plywood to keep it level and steady. If nothing seems to help, do not climb; Wait until the ground it harder. If you are unsure about using your ladder, scared of height or uncomfortable in any other way, please hire a professional to clean your gutters. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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New Home Maintenance Tips


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New Home Maintenance Tips Are you a new home owner or have you just invested in a new-to-you home?  There are a few things that you can do to ensure that could usually need cleaning, updating etc.   Check Attic Insulation  If your new home has too little insulation, a professional contractor can easily add more. Refer to ENERGY STAR® guidelines to find out recommended insulation levels for your area.       Clean Gutters & Downspouts Overflowing gutters and downspouts that do not drain properly can wreak havoc on the integrity of your home’s structure and lead to expensive repairs.       Install Gutter Guards   Install gutter guards. With Gutter Helmet® gutter guards installed by certified professionals, you can forget about climbing ladders and risking personal injury. The patented design permanently stops clogged gutters by keeping out leaves, twigs, needles and other debris.     Inspect/Install Smoke Detector Check the smoke detectors. Test all smoke detectors to ensure they are in safe working condition. In most homes, there should be at least one on every floor and near all bedrooms. Consider putting in fresh batteries and get into the habit of changing the batteries when you change your clocks.         Upgrade Light Bulbs Upgrade light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy than standard light bulbs and last about 10 times longer. Upgrade all the bulbs in your home to CFLs and you’ll start saving on energy immediately.         Install A Programmable Thermostat Install a programmable thermostat. Save on heating and cooling with a thermostat that allows you to select day and night temperatures and even a setting for every day of the week.         These are the 6 main points to check on a new home. Some new homes might have programmable thermostats and well insulated attics but typically you will need to clean your gutters, install gutter guards (if needed), inspect/install a smoke detector, and upgrade your lightbulbs. It’s your home, take care of it. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Gutters & Guards experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram  

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Drop In Gutter Guards : A Closer Look


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Drop In Gutter Guards : A Closer Look Drop In gutter guards is one of the most used gutter guards on the market. A drop in gutter guards are usually the most inexpensive gutter guard and can do the job or keeping debris out of your gutter but they generally are not a sturdy as a screen mesh or other slightly more expensive gutter guard is. If your home is located around a lot of trees it might not be as good of a solution as a sturdier gutter guard system is. Drop in gutter guards can keep larger debris out but are not known for keeping smaller debris out and pests can find their way into them. They also cannot support as much debris weight as a regular gutter guard could. So another reason to do some research before choosing the cheapest gutter guard. Contact your local gutter professional and get a quote with multiple gutter guard options. You can see the differences in price for a drop in to the next step up. It generally isn’t that big of a pricing difference. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Gutter Maintenance Tip #21 – Fix Detached Downspout


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Fix Detached Downspout Downspouts are almost as important as the gutter itself. Downspouts lead water away from your homes’ foundation so it’s vitally important for all downspouts to be in working order. Even a properly installed gutter system will not function unless all downspouts are in working order. Inspect your downspout system at the same time you inspecting and repairing your gutters. Clogging usually will typically occur at the point where the downspout connects to the gutter or at an elbow.   If you find that a downspout has fallen off or has became crushed, you should repair it immediately. You can add or replace a piece of downspout by crimping the end of the aluminum with a pair of pliers to allow the pieces to fit together. If you are not sure what size downspouts you have, it’s best to ask a professional and it might be easier to have them do the job for you, especially if you are replacing a entire piece of downspout. If your downspout fell off and is not damaged beyond fixing you can re-attach it. Again if you do not have the proper tools, please call a professional. For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected. Connect with us for daily inspiration, updates and information: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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