How Gutter Guards Work and How They Protect Your Home

MastershieldGutterGuardsVAMDGuest Blogger: Tom Kahn

Gutters are an often overlooked aspect of how the exterior of your home functions. Gutters protect your asphalt, cement, and (most importantly) your foundation from water damage and deterioration. Gutters also whisk water away from your property, protecting your landscape from water erosion and other types of damage. Gutters are an essential aspect of your exterior, yet in all likelihood, you neglect maintaining your gutters.

Gutters should be cleaned out at least once each year (typically in the spring) in order to get rid of leaves, tree branches, and other debris that may be lodged in your Read More

Home Maintenance Tip: Flush Hot Water Heaters

HomeZada Home Maintenance Flush Hot Water HeatersThis home maintenance is a timely one.  Your hot water heater accumulates sediment from your water source. That’s right water that flows through your home has other minerals in it.  This is not to say that your drinking water is not safe.

Water that flows through your home undergoes a filtration and chlorination process before it reaches your home, however not every mineral can be eliminated through these processes. If you do not periodically flush your hot water heater, the sediment will keep building up within the Read More

Home Maintenance Tip: Spray Pest Control Around the Home

Home Maintenance Tip: Spray Pest Control Around the Home

Almost anywhere you live there are  opportunities for insects and pests to enter your home. There may be different types of insects based on the climate and soil conditions of where you live. However, to prevent these little critters from invading the interior of your home, it is good practice to spray pest control around areas of your home. It is important to focus on areas that might allow for these pests to enter your home.

Determine the typical kinds of pests in your neighborhood or area. Then, determine what products will eliminate them or prevent them from entering your home. Some people spray around their home themselves, while many others hire a pest control service to minimize insects around and in the home. Which ever you choose, remember your pets. Many of these sprays contain toxins that would make your pets sick or worse, they could die. So when you are spraying around your home, keep your pets inside away from these chemicals.

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Maintenance Tip: Check Roof and Gutters for Ice Dams

HomeZada Ice DamsThere has a been a lot of snow across parts of the United States this year and living in climates where there is snow and temperatures that get below freezing can cause different risks to our home. Ice Dams are some of the risks that can occur during cold temperatures.  Ice dams form on your gutters and roof and generally occur after heavy snowfall followed by really cold temperatures. Ice dams that build up can cause serious damage including destroying gutters and eaves which ultimately can cause water leaks in your home’s exterior walls or attic. Making sure your walls are protected will prevent ineffective insulation and thus increased utility bills and mold and mildew problems which can lead to damage, rot or an unhealthy environment. It is important to be diligent and prevent them Read More

Home Maintenance Tip: Check Air Ducts In The Attic

Check Air DuctsGetting the air heat delivered via your HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems to your actual living spaces involves several parts of a HVAC system. One part is the large rectangular duct work in your attic that helps to deliver hot or cold air. This is one part of your HVAC system. Sometimes the air that gets forced through these ducts can leak out through loose or broken connections. This is a great time to conduct home maintenance and check to make sure no air is leaking from this duct work. If it is, you are wasting money as the hot or cold air is not being delivered to the living areas of your home and Read More