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Gutters play a key role in protecting the siding and foundation of your home. The gutters help to collect water as it falls from the roof and transport the water to a downspout, where it can be discarded away from your home. This keeps excess water away from the foundation and siding of your home. This can help to prevent soil erosion problems that can lead to sinking or shifting foundations, or problems associated with flooding in crawl spaces and basements. Keeping water away from the siding of your home helps to prevent rot and mold issues as well. While gutters are extremely important, they cannot do their job if they are clogged. Learning the key signs of a clogged gutter can help you to prevent that problem.

Water is Spilling Over the Edges of Your Gutters

The number one sign that your gutters are clogged is that water is spilling over the sides or edges of your gutters. The next time it is raining, step outside for a minute and look at your gutters. Do you notice water sloshing over the edges of the gutter and falling out? If so, your gutters are likely clogged. Clogs in the gutter system prevent water from flowing through the gutter channels as they should. When it rains, water builds up in the channel and has nowhere to go but over the edge.

Plants Are Growing in Your Gutters

Another common sign of clogged gutters is plants sprouting or growing in your gutters. You should not notice any type of growth peeking out from your gutters. However, if water is sitting in the trough, along with dirt and a single seed, one or more plants may begin to sprout. It is important to remove the growth quickly, as the root system can damage the gutter system, and the plant itself can obstruct water from properly flowing through the gutter system as it is designed to do.

Water is Not Coming Down the Downspout

One of the top misconceptions about clogged gutters is that if you do not notice water spilling over the edges of the gutter system, the gutters are not clogged. This is not true. Gutter systems can hold a lot of water, and in some cases, your gutters may be clogged, but there may not be enough water present to flow over the edges of the gutter. When it rains, step outside and watch the gutters. Does the rainwater actually come out the downspout? If you notice very little to no water coming out of the downspout, you may have a clog in the downspout or within your gutters.

Your Gutters Are Starting to Sag

One of the dangers associated with having clogged gutters is that the gutters can become so full of debris and water that the weight of these items starts to damage the gutters. Typically, before the seams of your gutters start to split or separate, you will notice that they start to sag from the weight of excess water and/or debris. This is a clear indication that your gutters are full and that they need to be cleaned. If you do not do so in a timely manner, the gutters may split at the seams, and then you will need to install new gutters.

Pests Are Hanging Out In or Around Your Gutters

One of the lesser-known signs that you may have clogged gutters is the appearance of pests by your gutters. You may notice the pests actually hanging out in the gutter, or see them hanging out on the edge of your roof. The types of pests may range from birds to small rodents and squirrels to insects. Clogged gutters are attractive to pests for a few reasons. First, clogged gutters may have small amounts of water in them that the pest can drink from or use to bathe in. Secondly, clogged gutters often have debris in them, such as leaves, sticks and mud. A pest can use those items to make a nest or shield themselves from predators. If you notice pests hanging out in or near your gutters, you may have clogged gutters.

Stain Marks Are Present On the Siding By Your Gutters

The final common sign that your gutters are clogged are stain marks on the siding underneath your gutters. If water is sitting in the gutters with debris, that water may become very dirty. As the water slowly seeps out of the gutters, it may start to stain the side of your home, leaving behind brown or black stains. Additionally, sitting water in a gutter channel can lead to rust issues. If the gutters rust, you may notice brown or red rust stains on the siding of your home. Rusted gutters should be replaced to ensure they can hold and transport water and to prevent staining on your home’s siding.

Gutters are a vital part of protecting your home, but traditional gutters need to be cleaned regularly to ensure they function properly. If you do not have the time to regularly clean your gutters, there is a solution that may help you. Installing gutter guards by K Guard is a great way to reduce the amount of debris that winds up in your gutters, in turn, reducing the frequency in which they need to be cleaned. Gutter guards cover a large portion of the gutter, allowing only water to seep into the gutters, and not items such as leaves and sticks. If you are ready to reduce the frequency in which you need to clean your gutters, reach out to us at K Guard to learn more.

This post first appeared on https://www.kguard.com

The post Legionella Bacteria: The Dangers of Stagnant Gutter Water appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

A wet basement can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Damp basements lead to the growth of mold and mildew and can result in damage to items stored in the basement area. If the basement happens to be finished, not only will water damage furniture and other furnishings, it can also ruin walls and flooring materials and make the area unusable. 

To make matters worse, a leaky basement can become a structural liability and, if the issue isn’t resolved appropriately, can even prevent a home from being sold. Wet or damp basements are a common problem in both old and new homes, although the problem occurs more frequently in older homes for a variety of reasons.

Common Causes of Basement Problems

If you’ve noticed water in your basement, you’re not alone. The American Society of Home Inspectors estimates that 60% of U.S. homes suffer from wet basements and 38% are at risk for basement mold. A professional solution can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but the news isn’t all bad. Often the source of wet walls or a leaky basement is on the outside of the house, above the ground where it can easily be fixed. Here are some problems that can cause major issues in your basement – but can be resolved with inexpensive solutions.

• Improper roof drainage. Roof downspouts can cause a literal flood of water in areas prone to drainage problems, as can overflowing gutters. Check to make sure that your gutters are clear so that water can flow freely, and that downspouts have extensions that lead several feet away from the house. If you frequently encounter clogged gutters, Gutter Helmet® gutter covers are a permanent solution to keep things flowing freely.
• Inadequate ground slope. Low spots in the grade surrounding your home will allow water to drain straight toward the foundation. Carefully examine the dirt or lawn around the entire perimeter of your house to make sure it slopes away from the basement walls or foundation by at least eight inches for every two feet. Other culprits of water in the basement include patios or driveways that improperly drain to the house.
• The neighbor’s runoff. If you live in a neighborhood where the houses are close together, a neighbor’s drainage system may be causing your problem. Make sure another downspout extender isn’t dumping water onto your property, allowing water to find its way into your basement.

Keep Your Gutters Clear With Gutter Helmet®

For more information about Gutter Helmet® rain gutter guards, call (800) 824-3772 to arrange a free in-home consultation with a dealer near you.

The post Get to the Source of a Wet Basement appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

The warm weather has officially arrived, and with it comes the chance to take care of all the tasks around the house that you’ve been putting off in recent months. Clear summer days are the perfect time to check items off your to-do lists yourself or schedule time for professionals to take a look. Below, find tips about how to tackle what can often seem like an overwhelming mission at first.

Source

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

The post Why Does the Location of Your Downspouts Matter? appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

During the year, your home or business attracts dirt, grime, pollen, and other residues on siding, pavement, and more. As these agents build up over time, it becomes necessary to get your surfaces cleaned. What better time to get power washing services than in the summer?

Summer is the perfect time of year to get your power washing needs taken care of. As pollen dies down in the summer months, it makes it the optimal time to get the exterior of your house or business cleaned. This built-up residue is not fun to deal with, especially on the long, sunny days in the summertime.

Here are a few benefits to getting summer pressure washing services in Warner Robins, GA.

Keeping Your Property Clean

When you invest in pressure washing services in Warner Robins, GA, it will help maintain your cleanliness as a home or business owner. Keeping a clean property is key when upholding its value and curb appeal.

Pressure washing services can help preserve the integrity of your home or business. Dust, debris, pollen, mold, and mildew are harmful to your property and can lead to serious damages. By using pressure washing services, you’ll prevent these agents and more.

If your home or business needs power washing services for siding, pavement or driveway, or anything in between, the experts at Propel Pressure Cleaning are here to help.

Perfect Weather in the Summertime

You may be thinking: Why is the hottest time of year the best to get pressure washing services? It’s simple – your property will dry up quickly after getting pressure washing services. If you think about it, once you’re done getting pressure washing on your home or business, it’ll take no time for all that water to dry up in the summer sunshine.

It’s also a good time of year to accurately see problem areas you’d like to have pressure washed. With ample sunlight the summer months provide, it’ll be easy to notice the spots you need cleaning.

Maintaining Good Health

Dirt, mold, mildew, pollen, and other residues can build up on your property, making for an unhealthy environment. This growth can cause health issues for you, your family and friends, or customers.

To ensure the safety of you and your guests, it’s best to call your local pressure washing service at Propel Pressure Cleaning of Warner Robins, GA. We’ll help you maintain the health and safety your property deserves.

Maintaining Property Value

Both homeowners and business owners can agree that maintaining (and increasing) property value is important. However, when you leave your property unkempt, harsh residues and materials will be left to grow over time, leading to structural issues that can decrease your property value.

How Propel Pressure Cleaning Can Help

If you need your home or business power washed, look no further. The experts at Propel Pressure Cleaning are here to help. Give us a call today at (478) 335-3375 to schedule a free consultation!

The post Benefits of Summer Pressure Washing Services in Warner Robins, GA appeared first on Propel Pressure Cleaning.

When maintaining the appearance of your home, power washing doesn’t always come to mind. If you want to maintain curb appeal, increase the value of your home, or need your yearly routine power wash, let the experts at Propel Pressure Cleaning help.

The summer months are the best time to have power washing services done for your home. But how much do these services cost in Warner Robins, GA? Here, we’ll explain the price to pressure wash your house.

Average Cost of Labor

Depending on the company you’re using, prices for labor will vary. Sometimes, costs are calculated by the number of hours taken to complete pressure washing services or the square footage. Most companies will charge by the hour.

Give the pressure washing experts at Propel Pressure Cleaning a call to see how much your pressure wash will be!

Average Cost Per Hour and Square Foot

The average cost per hour will also vary between companies, but typically, it’s between $50 and $100. Some factors that can change this are the type of surfaces you need pressure washed and what condition your house is in. The bigger the job, the more it might cost per hour.

In turn, the price per square foot is usually under $0.40 or $0.50 but can reach $1. When looking at price per square foot, the average amount spent on pressure washes is around $170 to $360. On the high end, some people spend about $1,000. However, the high-end is typically for those with hefty jobs or bigger homes.

Keep in mind the condition of the house and the services you’ll need when calculating costs. The more work that needs to be done, the more it can cost.

How Many Stories Impacts Price

Some may think the height of their home won’t impact the amount they’ll spend on pressure washing. However, the more space you need cleaned, the more it will affect the cost. But don’t fret – this doesn’t mean you’ll spend exuberant amounts of money.

If you have a two-story house, you may spend up to $2 per square foot, which isn’t a big stretch compared to a single-story home. For example, a two-story house could cost $450 to $800, depending on the work needed. For a three-story house, you’ll be looking at about $750 to $1,200. Although it can be pricey, it’s a job worth investing in.

Call Your Local Pressure Washing Experts at Propel Pressure Cleaning!

Are you tired of seeing dirt, mold, and mildew on the siding of your home? Need someone to power wash pollen off your patio? The professional pressure cleaners at Propel Pressure Cleaning are here to help!

Our team uses safe and effective equipment to get the job done while ensuring the safety of your home. Don’t spend the time and energy it takes to pressure wash your home. Call the professionals at Propel Pressure Cleaning at (478) 335-3375 for a free consultation today!

The post What Is the Price to Pressure Wash a House in Warner Robins, GA? appeared first on Propel Pressure Cleaning.

With summer here, you might be wondering what steps you can take to transform your outdoor spaces and get even more enjoyment out of them. If you like sitting out on a deck or patio, one option would be to get a patio cover.

Here are just a few examples of some of the benefits of covering your Oklahoma City patio for the summer.

Give yourself some much-needed shade

The summer sun can get pretty hot, so if you’re really going to enjoy sitting outside on your patio all day long, it can be helpful to provide yourself with some shade. This is especially beneficial if you have a particularly sunny property without a whole lot of natural shade around you. You can sit outside at any time of day enjoying the nice weather, while not having to worry about the sun beating down on you all day or constantly having to reapply sunscreen.

You can purchase either solid patio covers or lattice covers that will still allow a little bit of light to enter while providing you with some extra shade and protection that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Patio covers can also be designed in permanent or easily removable varieties so you can get exactly as much shade as you want, when you want it.

Protect yourself from rain

There’s something extremely soothing about sitting on a covered porch or patio during a summer rainfall. You can stay outside even during inclement weather during the summer when you sit underneath your patio cover.

The patio cover also serves to protect the other items underneath it from the rain. If you don’t protect your patio furniture and the patio itself, it could sustain weather damage over time that can be difficult or expensive to repair, and may necessitate a replacement earlier than you would otherwise prefer. Using a patio cover can save you money from having to replace those items, and also spare you the inconvenience of doing so.

Protect yourself from bugs

Summertime is also the season of bugs, and if you just have open air surrounding your patio, there’s not really much you can do to protect yourself other than wear bug spray and light some citronella candles and hope that does the trick.

When you have a patio cover, though, you can easily hang mosquito netting or use special types of lattice that are designed to keep bugs out, while still allowing air to circulate through the area. This is another way you can use your patio cover to increase your comfort while enjoying the outdoors throughout the summer months.

For more information about the biggest benefits of using a patio cover during the summertime, we encourage you to contact L & S Seamless Guttering to learn more about our patio cover installation services in Oklahoma City. We’d be happy to answer your questions about covering a patio for summer and will walk you through the various options we have on offer. We look forward to hearing from you!

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

Gutters play an irreplaceable role in maintaining your home’s excellent condition all year long. By diverting excess water away from your home, gutters work to protect a number of your home’s crucial structural elements, such as landscaping and hardscaping.

Gutters are instrumental in protecting your home’s foundation, preventing flooding and avoiding erosion. What is more, gutters have a positive impact on your home’s exterior, given their ability to reduce paint damage, stains, mildew and mold. Check out K-Guard’s top tips to maximize your gutters’ effectiveness and performance for years to come.

Prioritize Regular Inspections and Maintenance

One of the best ways to ensure that your home’s gutters are in good condition is to perform regular inspections and routine maintenance. Gutter care is a year-long commitment, but it is most pressing at the beginning of the spring and fall months.

During the spring, gutter checks primarily serve to check for damage after intense winter weather, such as snowstorms. Water is prone to freezing within the gutters, which can impair the gutters’ efficiency. During the fall, the priority during gutter checks is removing debris and leaves that may cause blockages.

Checking your gutters during these two times of the year will help ensure that your home is not subject to relentless water flow. That being said, homeowners can facilitate optimal gutter performance by watching out for obstructions of any kind throughout the year. Leaves, in particular, are known to clog gutters, ultimately impeding water flow, which can create more significant issues for your home.

Generally speaking, gutters last between 25-30 years with the proper maintenance. To make the most of your gutters’ lifespan, double-check their connections each year. Homeowners should also take the time to seal or repair any loose joints in the gutters.

Adapt Your Landscaping to Optimize Water Flow

Yet another way to ensure that your gutters function correctly is to adapt your home’s landscaping to ideal water flow and runoff patterns. Start by inspecting your property for any low spots that may be surrounding your home. Fill these low spots as quickly as possible in order to avoid unnecessary water accumulation.

On a larger scale, evaluate your property’s slope and grading. If your property’s grading or slope makes it easier for runoff to accumulate near your home, you may need to hire a professional excavator. Keep in mind that it’s best to keep water flowing away from your home whenever possible.

Homeowners can also take steps to reroute water flow so that it goes into a dry well or a storm drain. This is possible by installing a so-called sump pump, which takes water that’s accumulated in your basement and pumps it in another direction. A plumber can install a sump pump to direct water to a storm drain or dry well near your home.

Last but not least, homeowners can utilize a variety of water collection recipients, including rain barrels, rain gardens and cisterns. These solutions help limit the amount of water that is flowing toward your home, therefore helping you avoid potential long-term damage.

Install High-Quality Gutter Guards

In addition to these strategies to maximize gutter efficiency and optimize water flow, homeowners can also invest in gutter guards. As the name suggests, gutter guards are designed to facilitate water flow into gutters while eliminating outside debris, trash and pests.

By investing in gutter guards, homeowners can considerably prolong the life of their gutters and their home. This is because the longer that your gutters function efficiently, the longer they can protect your home from unwanted water flow and damage. These factors threaten homes’ foundations, exterior, basement flooding and much more.

With these factors in mind, gutter guards are an outstanding solution to the seasonal issues that negatively affect gutters each and every year. Homeowners have the option of different types of gutter guards, depending on their specific needs and preferences. A few options include metal screens, micromesh, sponge guards, reverse curve and slit guards. It’s best to know what kind of debris you are hoping to keep out of your gutters before choosing your gutter guards.

All things considered, gutter guards are a proactive way to extend the life of your gutters and your home. They effectively reduce the amount of maintenance needed on your home each year, ultimately saving you money every year.

Trust K-Guard for Durable, Efficient Gutter Solutions

Established over 25 years ago in Broomfield, Colorado, K-Guard is an established industry leader in gutter protection systems. K-Guard dealers are strategically located in 37 states, making superb gutter protection products widely available for homeowners nationwide. K-Guard prides itself on producing top-of-the-line gutter protection products that make homeowners’ lives easier and reduce the amount of gutter maintenance required annually.

With an unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, K-Guard continues to provide spectacular gutter solutions to customers across the United States. For more information about K-Guard’s exceptional offering, call (614) 964-4925 or fill out this quick contact form today.

This post first appeared on https://www.kguard.com

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing rainwater run-off from a roof or other surface for future use. The rain collects in the gutters, travels down the downspouts and is then channeled into a barrel or other container for storage until it’s needed.

Thanks to better environmental awareness and the green building movement, rainwater harvesting systems have become increasingly popular in the United States. This is good timing because the reality is that the water we need to run our households and businesses is in very short supply in many parts of the country. Thus, rainwater harvesting just makes good sense.

The Benefits of Rainwater Collection

• When used in conjunction with a Gutter Helmet® gutter guard system that filters out leaves and debris, the rainwater will be clean and ready to use for any non-potable need.
• The water is free.
• Water is conserved, which reduces demand on local wells and municipal supplies.
• The use of stored water cannot be restricted by your town or city.
• Rainwater harvesting can be an excellent back-up source of water in emergencies.
• Rainwater collection systems can be established almost anywhere in urban, suburban and rural areas.
• Collection systems are simple to set up and can easily be expanded, reconfigured or relocated when necessary.
• Unchlorinated rainwater is better for plants and gardens.
• Rainwater harvesting reduces stormwater runoff, which can cause erosion and water pollution.
• Rainwater collection can solve drainage problems on your property.

For every 1,000 square feet of surface area, you can expect to harvest around 600 gallons of water per inch of rain that falls. Get more details on calculating and planning for a rainwater harvesting system from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. 

Gutter Helmet® & Rainwater Collection Systems Help the Environment

For information about how to incorporate Gutter Helmet® rain gutter covers in your rainwater harvesting system, call (800) 824-3772 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Before you know it, you’ll be saving money on your water bill and benefiting Mother Nature at the same time with the help of the best gutter guards around!

The post 10 Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting for Urban & Rural Homes appeared first on Gutter Helmet.