time to gut your gutters AWS
4inch_102710_Home_GHNS_7.qxd:GHNS
10/26/10
9:49 AM
Page 1
HOME-SELLING TIP
Home
(Don’t) smell the roses During an open house, there should be no noticeable odor (i.e., pet scents, cigarette smoke or stale cooking smells). Likewise, scented candles, air fresheners or potpourri are not appreciated. The best way to freshen your home is with a thorough all-around cleaning, which means the carpets, walls, bathrooms and even the air vents. — Bankrate.com
DID YOU KNOW? "Staycations" have paved the way for resort-like outdoor spaces like weather-proof furniture and freestanding fireplaces in the backyard.
HOME HELP Jim Blanchard, owner of J Blanchard and Company in Scituate, Mass., demonstrates how to clean gutters. GARY HIGGINS/GHNS
STOCK.XCNHG
HOW TO
Save money and the environment There are simple things you can do around your home to save the environment and your money: ■ Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. ■ Turn off power strips or unplug electronics when they are not in use. ■ Replace your standard water heater with an energyefficient unit (options include gas tankless, electric, solar or heat pump water heater). ■ Ask your local electric utility company about a Smart Meter, which helps you monitor your electricity consumption. — U.S. Department of Energy
I
TIME TO GUT YOUR GUTTERS Save money by cleaning them before winter sets in
Backyard pond. STOCK.XCNHG
GARDEN GUIDE
BY ASHLEE FAIREY GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Childproof your tranquility pond Ponds or reflecting pools promote relaxation, offer a beautiful backyard feature and can house small critters. However, you should not only ensure that your waterscape adheres to city code, but that the proper precautions are taken to protect small children. It's impossible to make a water garden 100 percent childproof, but there are ways to reduce the risk. Plan for a 1-foot-deep ledge around the edge so a toddler can step out should he or she fall in the pond. Also, place boulders around the perimeter of the pond and inquire about fountains built for safety. — Lowes.com
Be mindful of how full your gutters become: Clogged gutters can result in stained ceilings, wet basements, rotted decks, flooded flowerbeds and siding damage.
f you're thinking of cleaning your gutters, a good time to do so is fast approaching. The middle of fall is an ideal time to scoop out your gutters. You want to hold off until most leaves have fallen, but you should act before frost sets in. "Once it gets cold, it's not as easy to do," said Joe Conner, owner of Conner's Gutter Cleaning in Kingston, Mass. "The ground gets more slippery, and when you place ladders on decks, there could be a sheet of ice.'' Spring is also a good time for gutter work. Dead branches will have fallen over the winter, and buds and seeds from new growth will become lodged in your gutters. How often you clean your gutters depends on the foliage surrounding your home, said Jim Blanchard, owner of J. Blanchard and Co. in Scituate, Mass. "If you live in the middle of a pine grove, you should clean them once a month,'' he said. "If you live on the beach, maybe you'll clean them once every five years.'' Be mindful of how full your gutters become: Clogged gutters can result in stained ceilings, wet basements, rotted decks, flooded flowerbeds and siding damage, Conner said. If you hire a professional, you can expect to pay from $1 to $4 per linear foot, depending on gutter accessibility, Blanchard said. Conner and Blanchard said they are wary of gutter covers. Solid covers won't catch water, and screens tend to blow away in high winds, they said. Blanchard found filters, however, to be effective. "They actually keep everything out,'' he said. "Pine needles accumulate on top, and water can get in through the needles.'' Filters can cost $6 to $8 per linear foot and last for 10 to 25 years, Blanchard said. Various tools can be used to clear gutters: scoopers, brushes - even a hose, though splatter will invariably make a mess, Blanchard said. "Perhaps the most effective tool is a pair of gloves,'' he said. "Use your hands to pull everything out.'' If you opt to clean the gutters yourself, take the necessary safety precautions. A fiberglass ladder that doesn't conduct electricity is best, Conner said, and eye protection, sturdy shoes and gloves should always be worn.
10/26/10
9:49 AM
Page 1
HOME-SELLING TIP
Home
(Don’t) smell the roses During an open house, there should be no noticeable odor (i.e., pet scents, cigarette smoke or stale cooking smells). Likewise, scented candles, air fresheners or potpourri are not appreciated. The best way to freshen your home is with a thorough all-around cleaning, which means the carpets, walls, bathrooms and even the air vents. — Bankrate.com
DID YOU KNOW? "Staycations" have paved the way for resort-like outdoor spaces like weather-proof furniture and freestanding fireplaces in the backyard.
HOME HELP Jim Blanchard, owner of J Blanchard and Company in Scituate, Mass., demonstrates how to clean gutters. GARY HIGGINS/GHNS
STOCK.XCNHG
HOW TO
Save money and the environment There are simple things you can do around your home to save the environment and your money: ■ Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. ■ Turn off power strips or unplug electronics when they are not in use. ■ Replace your standard water heater with an energyefficient unit (options include gas tankless, electric, solar or heat pump water heater). ■ Ask your local electric utility company about a Smart Meter, which helps you monitor your electricity consumption. — U.S. Department of Energy
I
TIME TO GUT YOUR GUTTERS Save money by cleaning them before winter sets in
Backyard pond. STOCK.XCNHG
GARDEN GUIDE
BY ASHLEE FAIREY GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Childproof your tranquility pond Ponds or reflecting pools promote relaxation, offer a beautiful backyard feature and can house small critters. However, you should not only ensure that your waterscape adheres to city code, but that the proper precautions are taken to protect small children. It's impossible to make a water garden 100 percent childproof, but there are ways to reduce the risk. Plan for a 1-foot-deep ledge around the edge so a toddler can step out should he or she fall in the pond. Also, place boulders around the perimeter of the pond and inquire about fountains built for safety. — Lowes.com
Be mindful of how full your gutters become: Clogged gutters can result in stained ceilings, wet basements, rotted decks, flooded flowerbeds and siding damage.
f you're thinking of cleaning your gutters, a good time to do so is fast approaching. The middle of fall is an ideal time to scoop out your gutters. You want to hold off until most leaves have fallen, but you should act before frost sets in. "Once it gets cold, it's not as easy to do," said Joe Conner, owner of Conner's Gutter Cleaning in Kingston, Mass. "The ground gets more slippery, and when you place ladders on decks, there could be a sheet of ice.'' Spring is also a good time for gutter work. Dead branches will have fallen over the winter, and buds and seeds from new growth will become lodged in your gutters. How often you clean your gutters depends on the foliage surrounding your home, said Jim Blanchard, owner of J. Blanchard and Co. in Scituate, Mass. "If you live in the middle of a pine grove, you should clean them once a month,'' he said. "If you live on the beach, maybe you'll clean them once every five years.'' Be mindful of how full your gutters become: Clogged gutters can result in stained ceilings, wet basements, rotted decks, flooded flowerbeds and siding damage, Conner said. If you hire a professional, you can expect to pay from $1 to $4 per linear foot, depending on gutter accessibility, Blanchard said. Conner and Blanchard said they are wary of gutter covers. Solid covers won't catch water, and screens tend to blow away in high winds, they said. Blanchard found filters, however, to be effective. "They actually keep everything out,'' he said. "Pine needles accumulate on top, and water can get in through the needles.'' Filters can cost $6 to $8 per linear foot and last for 10 to 25 years, Blanchard said. Various tools can be used to clear gutters: scoopers, brushes - even a hose, though splatter will invariably make a mess, Blanchard said. "Perhaps the most effective tool is a pair of gloves,'' he said. "Use your hands to pull everything out.'' If you opt to clean the gutters yourself, take the necessary safety precautions. A fiberglass ladder that doesn't conduct electricity is best, Conner said, and eye protection, sturdy shoes and gloves should always be worn.
