nebraska-gutter-connection

Energy Efficiency in Your Home

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:08:14 GMT

Can New Windows Help Save Energy in Your Home?

Did you know that 25% - 30% of heat gain or loss in your home is coming from your windows?

Those losses could be costing you hundreds of dollars each month with out-of-date, inefficient windows. The question is - what can you do to increase your energy efficiency and keep some of your hard-earned cash? You're really faced with two options: either update or replace those old windows.

Updating your windows can include checking for air leaks, adding new caulk and weatherstrips, and other do-it-yourself projects. This can work great as a quick fix, but needs to be re-evaluated regularly.

Replacing your windows may seem like a high price to pay, but a new window replacement can have up to a return of 73.4% on your investment. Replacing those old windows, not only helps with the energy efficiency of your home, but also updates the appearance of your house and increases your resale value.

Choosing the Right Windows

Make sure to look for the blue Energy Star label when buying new windows and then take it a step further by reviewing their ratings from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

At The Gutter Connection, we recommend purchasing Provia windows. ProVia has a reputation within the window industry for developing the best vinyl windows. These windows provide a high degree of customization combined with outstanding quality and energy efficiency.

ProVia also offers an energy performance calculator that helps you break down the NFRC rating so you can find the best fit for your location and home.

The Pros of ProVia Windows

By upgrading to energy-efficient windows, you can save anywhere from $125 - $340 a year on energy costs. With these potential savings in mind, we believe that choosing to replace your windows rather than doing time-consuming DIY projects is the best way to meet your energy-saving needs.

Reach out to Nebraska based business, The Gutter Connection to start down your energy efficiency journey.

Why Gutter Guards Are Your Solution to Gutter Cleaning

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 16:46:18 GMT

The Negatives of Gutter Cleaning

Gutter cleaning may only happen two or three times a year, but when that day rolls around, wouldn’t you rather not deal with the hassle?

It takes time. Depending on the size of your home, gutter cleaning could end up being an all day chore. That’s a day better spent playing with the kids, going to the gym, or watching the big game. You could be spending those two days out of the year doing your favorite things with your favorite people.

It takes tools. You’ll need a ladder that's tall enough to reach all of your gutters, in addition to gloves, something to scoop debris, and a bucket. That’s quite a handful to carry up a ladder.

It takes risk. Did you know that as many as 500,000 falls from ladders are reported every year? Around 97% of those occur at home. Ladders can be unreliable and every time you climb one, you’re at risk. With all the tools you’ve got to lug up, it can be an even more precarious position to find yourself in.

It takes money. Maybe you want to avoid climbing a ladder. You might consider hiring a professional to do it for you, but how much does a gutter cleaning service cost? It varies depending on where you live and the size of your home, but the typical range is around $100-250 every time. It may not sound like much in the grand scheme of bills, but $400 a year could be a hefty sum year after year.

How Can Gutter Guards Help?

They offer protection. Gutter guards keep your gutters clean. Having clean gutters helps keep the flow of water off of your roof. Water won't flow over the sides of your gutters and down the walls of your home if there's no leaf clutter or birds' nests to clog them. Overflow can cause damage to the foundation or erode landscaping. More importantly, gutter guards offer protection by eliminating the need for you to climb a ladder.

You have install options. You can install gutter guards yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Although climbing a ladder is risky, installing gutter guards would mean only having to climb your ladder one last time.

Moving Forward With Gutter Guards

Gutters can sometimes be the last on the to-do list for homeowners. It can seem like a simple task, but there are many negatives with gutter cleaning: it takes time, tools, risk, and money. Consider getting a gutter guard installed to minimize maintenance and maximize protection for your home.

If you don’t want to climb the ladder that one last time, hire The Gutter Connection for your water protection needs.

Gutter cleaning is free with every Gutter Guard installation. Gutter Rx Gutter Guards start at $4.50 per feet. Contact us for a free quote for your home.

The Bigger the Better

Tue, 18 May 2021 14:52:27 GMT

Oversized downspouts let the system do its job. Gutters are less likely to back up and overflow, which spares the foundation from repeated soakings.

Oversized Downspout Benefits

Handle heavy amounts of rainfall efficiently.
They reduce the strain on your gutters and...
Extend the system’s life.
3 x 4 downspouts funnel water away from the house much more quietly than 2 x 4 installations.
Better protection from water damage.
Reducing the maintenance efforts.
Still effective when you only have 1 downspout on a section of gutter.

Are you asking yourself- Do I need bigger downspouts?

Cleaning the Gutters too Often

If you’re cleaning the gutters too often. replacing 2 x 3-inch downpipes with 3 x 4-inch downspouts will improve the functionality of the gutters without the need for replacement.

Overflowing Gutters

Clogs in the gutter channel are not the only reason gutters overflow. The outlet of an oversized downspout is twice as wide as a 2 x 3-inch downpipe, allowing more water to exit the gutters and flow through the downspouts.

Although downspouts are overlooked by homeowners when they purchase or maintain a gutter system, downspouts play an important role in protecting a home’s exterior. Standard 5-inch gutters are typically paired with a 3 x 4 -inch downspout.

However, older gutter systems typically have the smaller 2 x 3 inch downspouts that clog easier and carry less water during heavy rainstorms.

Installing oversized downspouts as part of a older gutter system with 2 x 3 downspouts is a good choice.

If your installing a whole new gutter system, 3 x 4 downspouts are the industry standard so no worries.

Benefits & Advantages of Aluminum Seamless Gutters

Mon, 17 May 2021 15:10:22 GMT

Unlike other materials such as copper or steel, aluminum is very flexible and can be easily customized to your home. Our gutters are of highest quality aluminum coil and offered in premium .032 coil thickness.

Some benefits and advantages of aluminum seamless gutters include:

Exceptionally Strong —Highly durable and extra thick material offers excellent resistance.
Will not become brittle with age and weather.
Seamless and Continuous—They are uniquely made to the exact measurements of your home without any seams, which makes them far less prone to leaking. Also, visually more appealing than sectional gutters.
Low Maintenance—Does not require painting.
Advanced Hanging System—The strongest support available.
The Revolutionary Two-Coat Finish— Combines a rust-inhibiting primer and ultra-tough, low-mar topcoat on both sides of the coil for long-lasting performance.
Sustainable Formula—Aluminum is sustainable and recyclable for a better, eco-friendly choice.

Why Choose Aluminum Seamless Gutters?

Made from the best quality aluminum coil, Seamless Gutters are flexible, durable and designed to protect your home for years to come. You can choose from dozens of colors finished to blend in with your home’s trim.

Our aluminum seamless gutters are custom-designed to fit your home and installed in single pieces to the side of your home in a continuous run. This ensures that water is effectively and safely carried away from your home.

Aluminum is used for 80 percent of all seamless gutters, making it the obvious material of choice for this type of guttering systems. While steel is stronger and costs less than aluminum, it is also much heavier. This extra weight increases the risk of gutters pulling off the house, especially when filled with water or ice. Also, if the steel coating is scratched, the exposed steel is prone to rust and corrosion. Copper seamless gutters offer an aesthetically appealing option; however, they require additional upfront costs and added routine maintenance and polishing.

We believe aluminum is the best material for our seamless gutter system for the following reasons:

Aluminum gutters can hold more water, which is very important during heavy rains.
Aluminum gutters are lightweight, which reduces the overall weight and strain on your home, particularly the fascia.
Aluminum is highly durable and flexible and provides good impact and rust protection. This reduces the maintenance over time and increases the lifespan of your seamless gutter system.

How Much Do Aluminum Gutters Cost?

The cost of our seamless gutter system depends on the exact measurements of your home.