As nighttime temperatures dip and furnaces are fired up, it’s time to face facts: winter will soon be upon us. Now is the time it’s essential to prepare your home for coming cold. Ice, snow, wind and freezing temperatures can cause a host of problems in homes that are ill-prepared for them.
So here are some ideas for getting your home in it’s best possible shape for what’s certain to be another unpredictable Chicago winter.
Gutters, Gutters, Gutters
Remember, if your gutters are not clean before the leaves fall, you may be headed for some water trouble as fall storms roll in. Now is the time to get your gutters, downspouts and external watershed system analyzed before fall thunderstorms lead to sudden water events that can cause serious problems.
In the past, Get Dwell was hesitant to recommend any gutter guards, which are designed to keep leaves and other natural debris out of gutters, primarily because our clients have had mixed results. The most significant drawback is that during a large rain, water can glide or shed over some guards. This can lead to flooded window wells, basement flooding and water against the foundation, among other things. But for the last three years we have been analyzing a product called Gutter Stuff, which has been installed in some of our clients gutters. During this time we have received no client complaints and a few accolades from folks who have used other products in the past. Gutter Stuff is easy and quick to install and comes with a five-year warranty. It is available locally at Millens Hardware in Wilmette.
Ladder Safety
222,000 people end up in the emergency room every year due to ladder-related injuries.
“The number of emergency room visits from ladder-related injuries totals more than those for lawn mowers and home workshop saws combined,” warns John Drengenberg, Manager of Consumer Affairs at Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Northbrook, Ill., a not-for-profit product safety testing organization.
At Get Dwell, we see this kind of injury firsthand every year. The fact is, once you reach the age of 35-40 you increase your chances of a ladder injury or fatality. As we age, our core strength diminishes, our sense of balance is not what it used to be, our reaction times slow and a sense of vertigo is more likely. It can be a deadly combination. Please be careful out there and if you have any doubts of your capabilities, please leave the gutter cleaning or other outside ladder work to professionals.
Storm Windows – a Realization!
Finally — you don’t have to take storm windows on and off every year — thanks to an ingenious product from Spencerworks. It provides the look of traditional storms but has a hidden screen, which is opened in the warmer weather. This product is perfect for homeowners who don’t like the look of triple-track windows on their exterior. Call us or contact Spencerworks for more information on this beautiful, functional and money-saving storm window.
Keep Your Basement Dry
Some basements need a professional waterproofing company, like Permaseal, to stay dry. Their patented technologies, specialized tools and professionalism make them a great choice for our clients with basements that need that kind of protection.
For others, you need to understand the basics of how and why a basement floods and what you can do about it. In order to keep your basement dry this fall it’s important to do the following:
Check all areas where the foundation wall has been compromised — window well, stairs below grade are excellent areas to start. Make sure those areas and drains are clear and protected. We recommend specialized domed drain covers on these drains because we have been called to more than one flooded basement where an errant grocery bag has covered the drain, only to cause catastrophic flooding.- Make sure there is an adequate back-up system for your home. That may involve a back-up sump pump or in-home generator.
- Make sure the grading is appropriate and water will not flow over the foundation wall or window well.
- Check that gutters are pitched correctly, that gutter seams have not failed and that downspouts are not clogged.
If your watershed system drains run underground, they will need to be maintained periodically. It’s not a question of if they will fail, it’s a question of when.
October/ November Specials:
$30 off gutter cleaning
$75 basement flooding assessment
$25 off Gutter Stuff installation
$100 off design projects
$100 off storm window replacement projects
Recommend a friend and Get Dwell will donate $50 to Habitat for Humanity (on projects of over $200).