How Do I Know If My Gutters Are Clogged?

In areas where trees shed their leaves, gutters can quickly become clogged with a buildup of blossoms in the spring and fallen leaves and tree pods in the autumn. This type of tree debris can do more than just clog gutters: it can also clog downspouts and underground drain systems. At times, nests built by birds, squirrels and other animals can clog the gutters as well.

The Effects of Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters prevent water from making its way to the downspouts, which means it can’t drain as it should. Instead, it follows the path of least resistance, which means it usually leaks behind the gutters or flows over the lip of even the best gutter systems. Water that overflows gutters is easy to see, as are the problems it causes: eroded soil, stained masonry and concrete, and sometimes even cracks in the foundation. When water spills over the back of the gutter, on the other hand, it can cause the soffit and fascia to rot and stain the siding. This water can even find its way into the house at times, where it can potentially cause mold growth.

Signs That Your Gutters Are Clogged

The following are signs that you should look out for which indicate clogged gutters. Don’t worry, you won’t need to get out the ladder, as these signs can be seen clearly from the ground or from inside the house itself.

• Visible leaves & debris in the gutter trough
• Stained, discolored gutters, the result of water running over the edge
• Discoloration on other areas near the gutters, such as the walkway, driveway & siding
• Soil erosion around the foundation
• Water dripping from the gutters, even when it hasn’t rained recently
• Standing water in the basement

Contact Us Today for Professional Assistance

The easiest, most effective way to prevent water damage and stop gutter clogs in their tracks is to take advantage of the Gutter Helmet®️ gutter protection service. For more than three decades, our gutter covers have been rated the best on the market by homeowners around the country. For a FREE, no-pressure estimate on the best gutter guards, just give us a call at (800) 624-3772 or complete our online form.

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Regular maintenance can extend the lifespan of different components of your home. It can also help increase the visual appeal of your house. However, be wary of cutting corners with your home maintenance tasks, or you could do more harm than good.

Here are some home maintenance shortcuts that don’t really work in today’s post from Gutter Helmet® of Monticello, a top Gutter Helmet systems installer.

Waiting for the Paint to Crack or Peel Before Repainting

Paint doesn’t only enhance the appearance of your home–it also adds temporary protection against harsh outdoor elements and pests. Wood is prone to damage due to moisture, and paint helps prevent this problem. It delays the deterioration of your home’s siding and its underlying components. Waiting for the paint to crack or peel before you repaint can lead to rot and pest infestations. 

Painting Over Mold or Water Stains

Mold will not disappear when you paint over it, which is the same for water stains. Instead of cosmetic repairs, you should address the root cause of the problem–which is likely a leak. You can wash mold with a bleach or water solution or treat it with fungicide spray before painting. 

Not Changing Air Filters

Dirty or clogged filters can increase the risk of fire, mold growth and damage to the components of your HVAC system. Regularly changing air filters can help maintain good indoor air quality and prevent allergies. 

One Shortcut That Works 

An efficient gutter protection system is essential in protecting your exterior from water damage. You should have your gutters cleaned and maintained regularly so they can properly direct water away from your home. To minimize gutter cleaning, you can invest in a quality gutter protection system. 

Invest in gutter protection from Gutter Helmet of Minnesota. You can count on us for quality Gutter Helmet systems. Call us at (800) 824-3772 or fill out our contact form to get a free quote. We work with clients in Monticello, Minnesota. 

The post Home Maintenance Shortcuts That Don’t Really Work appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Rain gutters are the silent workhorses of any commercial property. They’re designed to be big and strong enough to move vast volumes of water away from the property to prevent costly water damage. They protect your siding, windows, doors, walkways, and foundation from the harmful effects of stormwater even during the freezing winter temperatures. When they do their job right…

Source

This post first appeared on https://gutterpros.com/

 

Pressure washing is a great way to clean your property’s exterior. The simple service removes dirt, mold, mildew, oil, and extends your property’s lifetime. It comes with a deceptive reputation, though.

A lot of people consider pressure washing an easy do-it-yourself project. True, you can accomplish it by renting a machine. But the reality is that it is a large, risky project for inexperienced users. Incorrectly pressure washing your property can cause expensive damage. As a result, you end up wasting even more money on repairs.

The Propel Pressure Cleaning team wants to help you avoid those expensive mistakes. So, we thought of the five most common pressure washing mistakes to help you get the job done right the first time. 

1. Using Too Much Pressure

The most common mistake property owners make when pressure washing is using too much pressure. Excessive pressure causes damage to your property. A few examples of damage from pressure washing include:

• Taking the siding completely off your property
• Leaving etch marks on your concrete driveway or patio
• Damaging plants and vegetation
• Cracking glass
• Stripping paint

There are a few ways to avoid these mistakes. Check the manufacturer’s settings to understand how much pressure the machine can give. Also, understand how much pressure different surfaces can handle. The roof of your home requires the smallest amount of pressure. Your driveway can handle much higher pressure.

2. Not Using Chemical Assistance

Another common mistake is pressure washing with only water. This improper technique can cause two major issues. The first issue: as a result of saturating your roof with water, you could introduce new damage in the form of mold.

The second issue is that your home will not be clean. Chemical assistance is essential in most cases, as it helps break down the barrier of contaminants on your property that make it dirty. Since plain water won’t get your home clean, it is tempting to increase the water pressure to help remove dirt. This practice results in the first mistake we mentioned of using too much water pressure.

3. Cleaning Out of Order

The third mistake is less severe and not detrimental to the structure of your home. It is time-consuming and frustrating. There is an order to cleaning the exterior of your home. The most efficient order is:

• Roof
• House
• Flat Surfaces
• Windows

Using this order prevents the hassle of cleaning two surfaces twice. For example, if you clean your driveway before your roof, you’ll need to clean your driveway again later. The same situation happens if you clean your roof after you’ve cleaned the sides of your home.

4. Lack of Knowledge and Equipment

A standard property owner is not an expert in pressure washing equipment and proper technique. This lack of experience can cause:

• Property damage
• Lengthy cleaning processes
• Expensive repairs due to improper cleaning

A professional has the knowledge and experience to get the job done right quickly.

5. Hiring the Wrong Company

All pressure washing companies are not created equal. That makes choosing the right company a high-stakes decision. A common mistake is that home and property owners hire the first company that gives them a quote.

Low rates and fast response times are not good deciding factors when you’re choosing a pressure washing company. To avoid unsatisfactory work, pick a pressure washing company that has:

• Years of experience
• Proper licensing
• Insurance
• Standard rates for the industry
• Testimonials that vouch for their work
• A portfolio of their work

Make sure you’re asking about these things when you’re vetting a company for a pressure washing service.

Final Thoughts

Pressure washing your property is a great way to maintain its curb appeal. If it’s a home, it reflects well on your neighborhood. If it’s a business property, it helps attract new customers. Call Propel Pressure Cleaning for your professional pressure washing needs in Warner Robins, Georgia.

The post Five Most Common Pressure Washing Mistakes appeared first on Propel Pressure Cleaning.

Working with the landscaping in your yard can be one of your life’s greatest pleasures. You’re getting an intimate look at nature and getting fresh air and sunshine on a regular basis. You’re exercising some small measure of control over your surroundings and getting close with the natural world. All of these are good things for your general wellbeing.

However, landscaping, like any other hobby or endeavor, comes with challenges. One of these is drainage—how can you best make sure your property is draining appropriately at all times? The most common drainage problems in Oklahoma City, OK are described below, and if you find yourself experiencing any of them, be sure to call the experts at L & S Seamless Guttering to help with solutions:

• Improper elevation changes: One of the big problems we see can start at the foundation of your home. Your property might be improperly graded, which can allow for problems to emerge with how water flows. As a matter of fact, if your grading is off, you could be inadvertently inviting water to move towards your foundation—a scenario that nobody wants. You’ll want to regrade the land around your house to make sure the water is flowing in the right direction, or even install a sub-surface drainage system that can move even more water.
• Landscaping designs: You might not realize it, but some of the most common drainage problems in Oklahoma City, OK can in fact be due to the landscaping that you have installed around your home. A bed’s layout, for example, can affect how water moves through your property. You want to install your bed in such a way that it allows for water to move naturally—otherwise the water could stay put and kill your plants or move in a direction that can cause damage.
• Paved surfaces: While natural features like landscaping and grading can cause problems, your paved surfaces can also be culprits of drainage issues. You need to make sure surfaces like patios and driveways are properly graded and angled away from vital areas so water can flow in the desired direction. You might need to regrade or possibly install a retaining wall. Contact our professional technicians for more information about how water can be directed away from paved surfaces.
• Check your gutters: Your gutters may be an overlooked cause of the most common drainage problems in Oklahoma City, OK, so you should be checking them regularly and ensuring that they’re up to snuff. They can be emptying into beds that can in turn drain towards your foundation, so inspect, clean and redirect them as needed.
• Beware the water traps: Depressions in your yard caused by improper grading can collect water and create boggy conditions. These will eventually kill grass and plants, and will need to be addressed by installing drainage that allows water to freely move out of these areas.

Working with the drainage issues in your yard requires some attention and foresight. Oftentimes it just takes some attention and some elbow grease to get things flowing the right way again. The team at L & S Seamless Guttering can provide more guidance and advice on these matters, so give us a call anytime!

This post first appeared on https://lsseamlessgutter.com/

What’s more synonymous with spring than a deep cleaning? If you’re ready to get your house cleaned for the new season – and help combat the current spread of germs and disease around the world – Superior Pressure Washing can help your home get that brand-new, freshly-cleaned feel for the springtime!

For over ten years, the Superior Pressure Washing company has helped customers get their houses in tip-top shape with a spring cleaning and disinfecting program starting from the outside! Superior Pressure Washing utilizes a trademark soft-washing technique to get the exterior of your home looking like brand new, providing a deep, refreshing clean to your home – while avoiding any damage.

Superior Pressure Washing boasts:

• Highly-effective and advanced special cleaning agents to get your home washed
• Years of experience within the field
• State-of-the-art nozzles and equipment
• A desire to do our very best to get your home cleaned!

Homeowners can’t go wrong in enlisting Superior Pressure Washing to take care of their most precious and essential investment – their home. With our superior techniques, the mold and dirt built up on your home are killed and removed – not just pushed around to build up again.

Ready to see how Superior Pressure Washing can help your house get ready for spring? If you’re in the Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Potomac area (or areas nearby), let us know how we can help you get everything as clean as possible! Visit or website to get a deep dive into our services and get a free estimate!

This post first appeared on https://www.superiorwash.net/

With the wide variety of gutter protection systems available on the market today, it can be hard to know which to choose. The pricing of a gutter guard system is typically figured on a per-foot basis. Many gutter guard companies include the installation of gutter covers at no extra charge with the purchase of the product itself. Others sell the gutter cover system and parts only, expecting you to take care of the installation yourself. When it comes to professional installation companies, many of them will even provide complimentary cleaning and minor gutter repairs with the purchase of a system. More substantial repairs may increase the final cost. 

The Benefits of Professional Installation

Professional gutter guard installers have the training and experience necessary to install the system safely and effectively. A long-lasting, durable gutter protection system includes a number of components, such as gutter caps, that require being arranged in the correct configuration. You should also keep in mind that climbing onto the roof to install gutter guards involves significant safety issues. That’s why it’s important to entrust the job to professionals whenever possible, which will also save you the hassle of doing the planning and buying the materials necessary to do it yourself.

The Importance of the Using the Right Products & Installers

If you want an expert gutter guard installer working on your home, you need to look for a company that has an established history of successful installations in your area. You want only the best materials used on your home so you won’t have to worry about dealing with the cost and inconvenience of replacing your gutter guard system a few years down the road. While this often means a larger initial investment, in return you’ll receive a product that will last a lifetime, even when facing the wrath of Mother Nature. 

Schedule a Free Gutter Helmet® Estimate

By turning to competent professionals for the installation of your gutter guard system, you can be assured that it will function correctly and perform well over the long haul. Gutter Helmet gutter guards offer unmatched durability and even include a Lifetime Warranty. For a free consultation from the experts, give Gutter Helmet a call today at (800) 824-3772.

The post Trust the Professionals to Install Gutter Protection Systems appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

What are the most common gutter problems and how do you fix them? Here’s a quick overview: 

Overflowing Gutters 

It’s important to regularly clean your gutters. Otherwise, leaves and other debris that land in the gutters and downspouts can form a clog, causing rainwater to overflow. To unclog your gutters, a contractor will have to manually remove the debris and readjust the downspouts in case they were dislodged. 

If you just don’t have the time to clean your gutters, installing gutter guards is an alternative solution. Gutter guards prevent leaves and all kinds of debris from entering and clogging your gutters, reducing the maintenance needs of your gutters. Gutter Helmet® is the only brand of gutter covers on the market with a Never Clean Your Gutters® guarantee.  

Sagging Gutters 

Your gutter system might buckle under the weight of accumulated debris and rainwater, causing sections of your gutters to sag. Just a slight tilt can cause water to gather and stagnate in parts of your gutter system. To realign sagging gutters, a contractor might need to install new hangers or readjust them, if the hangers are still in good condition. 

Gutter Leaks 

If accumulated debris isn’t removed and the gutters aren’t realigned, the seams or joints of your gutter system might start to pull apart, creating leaks. In most cases, a contractor will need to install new gutters. Since seams are a significant weak point of conventional gutter systems, you might want to install seamless gutters. Without such structural weaknesses, seamless gutters last longer than a conventional gutter system. 

Want to learn more about our premium Gutter Helmet products? 

Gutter Helmet Systems of Alabama, an A-plus rated contractor with the Better Business Bureau, offers professional gutter protection services.  To get a free quote, call us at (800) 824-3772 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Chelsea, AL, as well as the surrounding communities. 

The post Common Gutter Issues and How to Fix Them appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Spring is here, which means it’s time for spring cleaning! Here are the areas of your home that you need to pay extra attention to this spring: 

1. Garden Beds 

Don’t allow decaying leaves and twigs to detract attention from the lovely flowers that will be blooming soon. Rake away foliage and other debris and gather it into a compost pile before spring is in full swing.

2. Lawn

Before long, the grass on your lawn will start to grow as well, which is why now is a good time to reseed your lawn and apply fertilizer. Don’t forget to trim overgrown bushes and trees. Severe storms in spring and summer might cause excess foliage and flimsy branches to fall into your gutters. 

3. Gutters 

You should regularly clean your gutters to prevent foliage and other debris from clogging your gutters and causing rainwater to spill onto your siding and foundation. Don’t have time to clean your gutters? Installing gutter guards can help. Gutter guards prevent leaves from entering and clogging your gutters. Gutter Helmet® receives rave gutter cover reviews because it’s the only brand on the market with a Never Clean Your Gutters® guarantee. 

4. Exterior Walls 

Make sure to give your siding a good wash after winter, which can be especially hard on your exterior. The freeze-thaw cycle may have created cracks in your siding, so inspect it carefully and address any damage promptly.

5. Fence

Wear and tear from exposure to the elements can cause damage to wood components. Inspect your wood fence for signs of rot or cracks. 

Interested in installing new gutter covers? Gutter Helmet Systems of Alabama, a top-rated contractor in gutter cover reviews, offers professional gutter protection services. To get a free quote, call us at (800) 824-3772 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Chelsea, AL, as well as the surrounding communities. 

The post 5 Areas You Need to Monitor This Spring appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Here at Gutter Helmet, we’ve been in the gutter business for nearly 40 years. In that time, we’ve heard a lot of sales pitches for gutters and gutter protection. If you call for an estimate from a company that carries LeafFilter, LeafGuard® or Leaf Relief gutter guards – or any number of other gutter protection products – it’s important to familiarize yourself with how these systems work and ask a lot of questions about the background of the installer and the amount of investment required. Then give Gutter Helmet a call and ask us the same. We think you’ll be impressed by the professionalism and experience of our installers, as well as the innovative features and functions of our patented gutter cover system. 

What to Ask When Requesting a Gutter Cover Estimate

When calling to get a quote from a gutter cover company, don’t forget to ask the following questions:

• How long has your company been in business? Verify the information you receive on how long a company has been in business with the Better Business Bureau. 
• Can I see your pricing sheet? Some gutter cover companies like to play a numbers game by starting with an inflated price, then adjusting it as needed to convince you to make a purchase on the spot. A contractor who isn’t able to show you a standard pricing sheet is likely less-than-reputable.
• What is the condition of my gutters? Before giving you an estimate, the salesperson will need to carefully inspect your gutters.
• Have you installed systems on any of the homes in my area? It can be very helpful to look at how the system is working on homes in your area and talk to the respective homeowners about their experience  with the company 
• Are your installers insured so that I’m protected from liability in the event of an injury on my property? Make sure that any company you hire has full liability and workers compensation insurance and is able to provide proof of such coverage.
• What happens with my warranty if you go out of business? While many warranties are offered through the manufacturer, a good number are offered through the dealer, which means you have no recourse if your dealer goes out of business. 

Schedule a Free Gutter Helmet® Estimate

By asking these questions, it is our hope that you’ll be able to make an informed decision on the best choice of gutter guard for your home, whether it’s a Gutter Helmet system or some other product. We welcome the opportunity to educate you about the advantages of Gutter Helmet, so feel free to call us anytime to ask questions or schedule an appointment with a Gutter Helmet dealer today at (800) 824-3772. 

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