Did you know that a dirty dryer vent is one of the biggest fire hazards in your home? The removable lint filter traps a lot of the lint produced while drying your clothes, but does not get all of it. This lint that slips through your filter or lint trap gets trapped in nooks and crannies deep inside the dryer ductwork that allows hot air from your dryer to escape your home. This build up of lint can make it harder for your dryer to work and can lead to overheating. This excess heat can ignite the lint and cause house fires.

Other than the fire hazard clogged vents present, congested dryer ducts can introduce other problems. A clogged dryer vent can waste your time, energy and money by causing your dryer to take longer to dry your clothes. Not only is this bad for your wallet, the need to run the dryer for longer amounts of time is bad for the environment.

While there are some maintenance tasks that you can do regularly  to keep your dryer vent and ducts clean, much of the work of getting deep into the ducts and vents to deep clean the system can be difficult if you don’t have the proper training and equipment. Read on to find out what maintenance tasks you can perform on your own and what is best left for the pros.

Warning Signs That Your Dryer Vents Are Becoming Unsafe

Most laundry-doers dutifully clean their dryer’s lint screen before each new load of clothes. No matter how diligent you are with your lint cleaning, lint will still be able to get past the lint screen, building up dangerous lint clogs in the hoses or ductwork that carries hot air outside your home.

There are several warning signs to look for that may indicate that your dryer vents are clogged and should be taken care of immediately to avoid any accidental fires in your home. If you notice that your clothes are taking longer to dry, are still damp at the end of a full cycle, or if you notice that your clothes are hot to the touch when the cycle is over, it may be time to call in the pros. Other signs that your vents need to be cleaned include the dryer itself running hotter than usual or your dedicated laundry room (or the air surrounding the dryer itself) is humid or damp.

What You Can Do To Maintain Your Dryer Vents

The first step of cleaning any appliance is to unplug the dryer from the wall. If your dryer is powered by natural gas, this process is a bit more complicated and should be left to professional dryer vent cleaners like Ned Stevens. Gas leaks are serious and dangerous. If you think that you may disturb the gas line attached to the dryer in any way, call a professional to avoid any extra hazard and possible accidents.

Once your dryer is unplugged from the wall, vacuum the inside of the lint trap housing with a hose attachment that is long and skinny so it can reach down around and below the inside barrel of the dryer. You may need to do this several times to make sure you’re getting all the trapped lint and you may also need to use special brushes for this job. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends performing this routine maintenance every three months. You can then use the same vacuum with a larger brush attachment to clean in and around the hole at the back of the dryer. If you can reach it without disturbing any gas lines or water fittings on your washer.

Clothes dryers can be complicated pieces of machinery with intricate and delicate moving parts. The ductwork in your home is much the same. Keep things simple and safe in your home by enlisting professional and knowledgeable service folks to do the harder and more dangerous tasks for you. If you are looking for help with exterior maintenance and cleaning, including gutters, roofs and decks, reach out to the experts at Ned Stevens. Call for a free quote today!

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The post Fire Prevention: Dryer Vent Cleaning 101 first appeared on Gutter Talk.

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

Late summer/early autumn is a great time to give your home some extra attention before winter weather sets in. Check out this list from Ned Stevens of things you need  to do to get your home ready for anything fall weather might bring.

Inspect Windows And Doors

Look over your door and window frames for any damage that needs to be repaired. Examine windows for any loose fittings. If your windows aren’t sealed properly, your home could potentially lose a lot of heat, causing your bills to rise and your home to possibly experience drafts.

Landscaping and Gardening

Get branches trimmed, especially those that are damaged or are too close to your roof or any power lines. Since fall weather can bring storms with strong winds, this limb trimming can help avert any autumn disasters.

Shut Off Outdoor Faucets

To keep your pipes from freezing, drain any remaining water from outdoor hoses and faucets and turn off exterior faucets. Store hoses and attachments safely in a place where they won’t be damaged or freeze over the winter.

Check Smoke Detectors

The change of any season is a great reminder to check all smoke and carbon monoxide sectors throughout your home. Replace all the batteries in these detectors and don’t forget to press each test button to ensure each one is working properly.

Get Warm Items Out Of Storage

The turn to cooler weather in the fall signals the time to switch your closet from your summer clothes to warmer ones you put in storage in spring. Likewise, it’s a great time to bring out any warmer bed coverings and blankets for your couch that you may have stored away during the warmer months. This is a great time to go through your clothes and bedding to make sure that everything fits and doesn’t need mending. Donate any clothes or bedding you no longer want and use the warmer gear before turning on your heater to save money.

Clear Gutters And Downspouts Of Summer Debris

We don’t often think about summer as a time where lots of debris falls onto our roofs, but summer rain and wind storms can clog up your drains with sticks, needles and other detritus. To prepare for autumn’s falling leaves, make sure your drains are cleared of any debris during this transition period so your gutters and downspouts don’t have to fight any summer accumulation.

Inspect Your Attic

Make sure your attic vents are not blocked by insulation in order to prevent ice dams from forming on the roof. Check for dirt and debris on the ridge vents and on eaves. Check to make sure that any bird and rodent screens are not damaged and are securely in place to prevent pests from entering your attic.

Completing small tasks around the home can quickly and simply make your home ready when cooler weather sets in. If any project seems unsafe or you don’t feel like checking your gutters or attic on your own, call the professionals at Ned Stevens today. Our team of specialists are experts at transitioning your home from one season to the next and taking care of all the tasks that will ensure your gutters and roofs are prepared for whatever weather fall might bring. Call Ned Stevens today!

Get $50 Off Your First Diamond Plan!

The post How To Prepare Your Home For Fall Weather first appeared on Gutter Talk.

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

Thinking about getting a carport to protect your vehicles from tornadoes and other weather? They’re an easy way to keep the elements off your cars or trucks without needing to add an enclosure to your home. Carports are freestanding open shelters that will protect cars from rain, sun, wind and snow. However, it’s important that you pick a material that can stand up to the weather.

Carports are often made from both aluminum and steel. Which should you pick? Overall, steel carports are the best for the climate and weather in Oklahoma City, OK. Here’s why we think you’ll love a steel carport.

Why get a carport?

Carports are great for storing your vehicles safely when there’s no room in the garage. They’re usually open structures with a weatherproof roof:

• Protect your vehicles: Most importantly, carports help keep your car safe from the weather and falling debris. Even if it’s icy outside, your carport will help keep ice from forming on the windows. It’ll also help keep dust, dirt and rain from affecting your paint job.
• Avoid additional property taxes: Since carports are open, semi-permanent structures that do not require a foundation, they won’t affect your property taxes in most areas. (Even without a foundation, you should anchor your carport to the ground as much as possible.)
• Movable: Because carports aren’t permanent structures with foundations, you’ll have the option of moving them around your property. If circumstances change and you need to use a certain part of your property for another purpose, you can simply anchor your carport to another part of the land.
• Versatile: Carports are primarily for protecting your vehicles and boats, but they can also be used as a makeshift patio awning. They can provide shade for your home’s or business’s entertaining or business needs. Never let the weather ruin your outdoor event again!

Why steel is superior

Your options for carports are numerous. When it comes time to choose a material, here are some reasons to go with steel:

• Strength: Aluminum might be lightweight, but it has about half the strength of steel. To make it as strong as steel, you’d need to make it significantly thicker—not a practical solution for most carports. Since Oklahoma City is affected by snow and tornadoes, you should opt for steel for its strength, weight and load-bearing capacity.
• Durability: Steel and aluminum alike can last for a long time, but when it comes to standing up to everyday dents, dings and other issues, steel has the advantage. Aluminum tends to show dents and dings, while steel is much harder to damage.
• Maintenance: Aluminum and steel are both low-maintenance materials. Both resist rust and corrosion, although aluminum can start to look chalky after a while. Steel resists rust and corrosion and will still look great, even if it’s been exposed to the elements for years.

If you’re thinking about getting a carport, we think you should go for it—you’ll get to enjoy years of vehicle protection and other uses. Make sure to pick a steel carport for the best quality in Oklahoma City, OK. Call L & S Seamless Guttering today to get started.

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

As cooler weather hits we begin to do more activities indoors, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t bring the outdoors with us for our in-home activities! Here are a few things you can do while you spend those shorter autumn days inside using things you might have lying around your house—and we mean *around* your house. All you have to do to make these quick and easy fall crafts is to round up a bunch of those fallen leaves you can find in your lawn and around your neighborhood. These crafts can be made without any special tools or skills so they are fun for the whole family!

Leaf Lanterns

For this project you will need any glass bowl, jar or votive holder you have on hand (a pasta sauce jar will work well here), some matte finish glue and some flattened, dried leaves you’ve found outside. The first thing you will need to do is wash your glass jar or bowl throughly and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol to make sure there is no trace of oil or grease which will make it difficult for the leaves to stick. Making sure that the leaves lie as flat as possible, use a small sponge brush to add a thin layer of glue to the outside of the glass or jar. When the glue begins to dry and becomes just a bit sticky, carefully press a leaf onto the glue. Once all the edges are stuck to the glass or jar, you can begin the process again with as many leaves as you want until the glass or jar is covered in leaves. When all the leaves are dry, you can carefully place a votive candle or other small candle and voila! A beautiful leaf lantern to usher in the fall.

Leaf Punchouts

This is a super simple project for a blustery fall day. If you have any paper punchers in any shape, you can just punch out shapes from your dried leaves and paste them on any project you have in mind. Bookmarks, collages, wall art—your imagination is the limit!

Leaf Autumn Banner

For this project you will need cardstock, acrylic or tempera paint in assorted colors, a foam paintbrush, a rolling pin, a hole punch, twine and, of course, fall leaves. For this project, you will want to find softer, more flexible leaves. Since you will be using the leaves as a kind of “natural” stamp, you don’t need to find dried leaves or even ones that have turned color for fall. This project involves either using a foam paint brush to dab paint onto your leaf or dipping your leaf directly into paint you’ve poured into a paint tray. Here, you can choose to paint it all one color or to mix colors to make a more marbled effect. Sandwich your leaf covered lightly in paint in between two sheets of cardstock and gently (but firmly) roll over your project with a rolling pin. Carefully remove the top piece of cardstock and peel the leaf off the stock to reveal your new beautiful print. To create a festive fall leaf banner, punch a hole in the top corners of your prints and string them together with your twine. Hang on a banister, mantle piece or anywhere else you want to show off your beautiful leaf creation.

If you’re finding more than just enough leaves in your yard to make afternoon crafts with and you’re worried about cleaning it all up, especially from your roof and gutters, call Ned Stevens today to schedule an appointment with a gutter cleaning specialist!

Get $50 Off Your First Diamond Plan!

The post Leaf Crafts For The Family first appeared on Gutter Talk.

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

As the long days of summer turn into the cooler, shorter days that signal fall, you may be thinking about the tasks you should take to winterize your house. While you are preparing your home for the colder months ahead, add these projects to your list to keep your home warm. Not only will you feel better during the cooler months, but you might also save some money on heating bills as well.

Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat is worth the investment, especially once the weather cools down, because it will keep your energy and heating bill low while keeping your heating efficiency high. It is recommended that you keep your home at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the morning (6 to 9am) and after you would typically get home in the evening (5:30 to 11pm). If you leave the house during the day, you can set your thermostat for 60 degrees as your home doesn’t need to be warm when there is no one inside. Likewise, pros suggest setting the thermostat for 60 degrees while you are sleeping. One added bonus is that research has shown keeping your room cool at night promotes better sleep and may increase your metabolism! Many programmable thermostats can even be controlled from an app on your phone.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans are great at moving air around the room to help you feel more comfortable. In the winter, make sure to flip the switch on your ceiling fan to reverse direction. This will push down the warm air that naturally rises upward while pulling the cooler air toward the ceiling and away from you.

Change Out Your Screens

To keep your home better insulated during the winter, swap out summer screens for storm screens on your windows and doors. If you use window A/C units, make sure to remove them before cooler winter weather sets in. If you leave them in over the winter, install an insulating wrap to cover the exterior of your unit.

Keep Your Curtains Closed At Night

As soon as the sun goes down, it’s important to close the curtains of your windows to trap any warm air inside your home from escaping through the windows (of course, you want to make sure your windows are properly sealed as well). If you live in a particularly cold area, you might even think about investing in insulated curtains for winter use to maintain a barrier between the warmth inside and the cold outside.

Make Sure Your Furniture Isn’t Blocking Your Vents

If you have placed any pieces of furniture in front of or over heating vents when you moved in or rearranged your space, you could be obstructing heat from getting into your rooms and properly warming your home. If there is no other way to arrange your furniture for better heat flow, perhaps think about moving a piece or two just for the winter.

If you have any questions about how keeping up with your roof and gutter maintenance can help keep your home warm in the fall and winter, reach out to the pros at Ned Stevens who will set you up with a home inspection and free quote today!

Get $25 Off Your First Gutter Cleaning!

The post How To Keep Your House Warm As Weather Cools first appeared on Gutter Talk.

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

The post How to Prevent Your Gutters from Rusting appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Fall is a spectacular season filled with pumpkins, crisp weather, and beautifully colored leaves! While it is a wonderful season, it should be used as a time of preparation for Winter. People often get their HVAC systems maintained in the Fall, but it is not very often that people worry about the health of their gutter until it’s too late. Gutters are the sole protectors of your home from the…

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The post 5 Dangers of Standing Water in the Gutters appeared first on Gutter Helmet.

Homeowners – you know how important your gutters are to the overall health of your house. With the change of seasons coming up, it’s time to get your gutters in great shape – and that’s where Superior Pressure Washing comes in!

For the overall safety and health of your home, gutters MUST be cleaned on a regular basis. If not, gutters get loaded with debris that can cause water to go right over the gutter face and into the attic or foundation or your home – causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Along with that, water buildup from faulty or clogged gutters can attract harmful infection infestations or mold buildup. The result? Poor gutter maintenance can do a tremendous number to the structure of your house (and may even harm your own health, too).

Don’t wait – schedule regular gutter cleaning service with Superior Pressure Washing right now. You’ll add years to your gutters and stay up-to-date with fixes to any existing damage. No matter what time of year it is, we’re ready and available to make your gutters work to their full potential!

Looking to get your gutters in tip-top shape for the change of the seasons? Learn what Superior Pressure Washing can do for you! We’re the premier pressure washing company in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and DC Metro area. Proudly headquartered in Olney, Maryland, we’re the place to turn to for the best residential and commercial exterior cleaning.

Visit our website at www.superiorwash.net or call (301) 949-8000 for a free estimate today!

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