Upgrade Your Gutters For Less Maintenance Year Round

While most people think about gutter cleaning in the autumn, the falling of spring blossoms can cause serious clogging that creates overflows and inadequate rainwater drainage. 

Gutters have come a long way in the past few years. Back when many of the homes in this area were built, open gutters were used to collect rain off the roof and deposit it onto the ground through a system of downspouts. Open gutters, however, allow not only water but leaves, whirlybirds, blossoms, and sticks to also fall into the gutter, blocking them and eventually causing overflow without regular removal.

Gutter cleaning keeps me busy, mainly because it’s a dirty job that can also be dangerous if you’re not used to working on a ladder. Luckily, over the past few years, gutter manufacturers have smartened up, creating shields to install over your current gutters, as well as closed gutter systems that can replace your current setup.

Gutter guards come in a variety of materials and sizes, but they are all designed to maximize water flow while keeping tree debris out of the channel. The least expensive option is steel mesh screens which slide in and sit above the gutter lip itself. The arch design helps to ensure that debris can’t get stuck in the back of the gutter and they generally come with a five-year warranty against rusting or corrosion.

A step up from mesh screens is a heavy-duty aluminum option that can be fitted from the front and back, avoiding the need to remove roof shingles for installation. These products come with a ripple design to prevent leaves from drying on the surface and they are generally backed by a 20-year warranty so you don’t have to worry about replacing them often. I like these because the design strengthens the gutter which comes in very handy during major snowstorms when many homes in the area suffer from heavy and dangerous ice dams.

Finally, there is Leaf Relief, a heavy aluminum gutter shield that can drain nearly 30 inches of rainfall in one hour, which is 15 inches more than the highest rainfall ever recorded (for inquiring minds, that’s 12 inches in one hour in Holt, Missouri). For homeowners who want no maintenance, this is the gutter product for you. The 25-year no-clog, no-overflow warranty gives it the same lifespan as a new roof and the inset design makes it invisible from the road. Best of all, dry debris blows away with only a six-mile-per-hour breeze.

No matter what type of gutter guard you choose, you want to make sure that it’s the best product for your home. While any gutter guard will reduce debris getting into your gutter, the right guard will depend on the trees in the area, how much rainfall you get, the position of your house, and the size and age of your current gutters. Once those factors are taken into consideration and the appropriate product is chosen, you can say goodbye to messy cleaning and enjoy less maintenance at your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Protect Your Home From Ice Dams Before the Storms Hit

This winter has been pretty mild but the season is still in full swing and it won’t be long until we get a storm to remind us that we live in New England. Before that happens, I always like to talk about the dangers of ice dams and the reason why so many homes in our area get damaged by them. 

An ice dam is a solid mass that forms when heavy snow blankets the roof, creating an extra layer of unwanted insulation. As warm air rises from your house and up through your attic, it causes the snow to melt and the water to slide down into the gutters. This would typically be just fine, but because so many homes in our area aren’t properly insulated, the melting ice will often make contact with the cold eaves of the roof and freeze again instead of draining off through the gutters. This forms a large ice mass at the gutter line, which will grow if not taken care of.

Solid ice is heavy and can easily pull gutters loose. The dam can even get strong enough to lift up your roof shingles, creating gaps that let the water through and into the attic. This is when people start to see leaks in their ceilings and walls. 

The only way to prevent ice dams from forming is to have your home properly insulated and ventilated. More than 75% of homes in our area are under-insulated which causes the heat from your home to shoot right through the roof. Because insulation and ventilation weren’t regulated when most of the homes were built in this area, a lot of us have houses that are better suited for Florida winters than our cold Connecticut climate. 

Having appropriate insulation and ventilation will not only keep your home free from ice dams but will also keep you much more comfortable in both the winter and the summer. You’ll feel the difference immediately, and you’ll see the benefit in your energy bills too. A house that can breathe and can properly regulate its own temperature will also be less like to accumulate mold and mildew which is not only damaging to your house but also to your health. It’s a simple solution to keep your family, your home, and your wallet healthy. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Make Hot Water Heater Maintenance A Priority

No one wants to be thinking about winter quite yet, but now is actually a great time to make sure your water heater is in good working order. Major appliance maintenance such as this might seem like a big task, but if you haven’t had issues in the past, a simple check-up and clean-out can really help it run more efficiently while lengthening its life. Here are some tips. 

As a water heater operates, it collects sediment that can cause decay if left in the tank over time. Drain your water heater at least twice a year to get rid of any buildup, which will prevent corrosion and increase the machine’s energy efficiency. I like to do this in the fall and early spring, before and after its busy season.

First, turn off the unit and give it plenty of time to cool down. Then, using a garden hose and pump, drain the water into a bucket. If the bucket becomes filled with brown, sediment-tainted water, continue to refill and drain your heater until the water looks clean again. When you’re in the clear, you can disconnect your hose and turn the unit back on.

Keep your water heater at a steady 120 degrees and lower it down if you’re planning on leaving the house for three days or more. For every 10 degrees you decrease the temperature, you’ll save five percent in energy costs.

Insulate the tank and pipes with fiberglass. For the tank, fit a fiberglass blanket using foil tape, but be sure not to cover any valve or pipe openings. For the pipes, you can use fiberglass wrap or foam insulation. By adding a layer of insulation to your water heater, you’ll keep the warmth from escaping into the air and you’ll protect the machine from condensation in the warmer months. 

If you have a valve that’s leaking, make sure that the fittings are nice and tight. If anything is loose, you might have to replace the valves or fittings. You can find the parts you’ll need at a local hardware store – just don’t forget to shut off the water before fitting them!

Remember, working with electric or gas appliances can be dangerous. If you’re not familiar with how your unit operates or if you’re not comfortable with this kind of work, contact a plumber for a routine maintenance check.  

The average lifecycle of a water heater is about eight to twelve years and they can cost anywhere from $300 for an electric tank system to well over $1,000 for a tankless energy efficient natural gas appliance. If you’re in the market for a new machine, do your research and make sure you maintain it regularly to ensure that it will go the distance. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.