Importance of Gutter Protection

If your gutters look more like a garden instead of a system designed to protect your home from water damage, then you already know one of the reasons why gutter guards can be important. Plants and small trees belong in the yard, not on your roof.

Unprotected gutters will fill with debris from surrounding trees and other debris carried on the wind that ends up on your roof. No matter where you live, nature’s elements will find a way into your gutters and lead to serious problems.

When a gutter clogs…it fills with water, overflows, and becomes totally useless. Issues caused by debris collecting in your gutters are:

• Water overflow leading to foundation damage and soil erosion
• Build-up of dry debris is a fire hazard
• Water leaking into your attic and walls
• Standing water creates the perfect habitat for mosquitoes
• Moisture problems that encourage mold growth and termite/pest infestation

Cleaning your gutters regularly can help keep these things from happening, but getting up on the ladder several times a year isn't just a hassle – it’s not safe.

Cleaning gutters is notoriously one of the worst outdoor chores and we’re confident that many folks agree. At THE RHINO, we save homeowners from doing dirty work.

RHINO Gutter Guard is a system that creates a protective barrier keeping leaves, seed pods, pine needles, shingle grit and other debris out of your gutters. Our goal is to take gutter cleaning off of your “to do” list.

We researched a number of gutter protection technologies including reverse curve, hoods, foam, screens, and other mesh guards. The one consistent issue with each product was that they all failed to do what they were intended to do…keep debris out while allowing all of the water in.

We knew we could do better and we did by developing a product that would optimize water flow while keeping all debris out of the gutter system.

How to Install Gutters - DIY or Hire a Professional

Many homeowners have asked us about the best way to install gutters on their home. With tons of articles online explaining how to install gutters, some consider the do-it-yourself option to avoid hiring a professional. While this sounds like a good idea, homeowners should be aware of the risks associated with installing gutters themselves.

Typically, installing gutters can be done in a day or weekend, making the project enticing for a homeowner to add to their “to-do list” around the home. Homeowners should think twice before committing to this project. Installing gutters requires time spent on a ladder and quite possibly the roof. In the US, over 175,000 people fall from ladders each year, while 350 of those falls prove to be fatal. Hiring a professional, rather than attempting a gutter installation yourself, can save you from potential injury and costly medical bills.

While hiring a professional gutter company might seem daunting, the benefits are far greater. Professional gutter companies know this tarm in a safe, efficient manner. Installers spend most of their day on a ladder and practice proper safety techniques. Gutter companies are experts on installation of gutters. They know how to properly hang and pitch the gutters, inspect the fascia for damages, and the proper methods of sealing gutters to prevent leaks. All of these factors affect the performance of your gutters and most homeowners don’t have the appropriate knowledge to address these issues.

Another benefit to having a professional install your gutter system is the warranty you often receive. Many companies offer a warranty which gives you peace of mind that your gutters will continue to protect your home for years to come.

When deciding to hire a professional company to install your gutters, you should consider gathering estimates from multiple companies. Don’t forget to check their references, make sure they are licensed and insured, and ask about their warranty. A quality company will have this information readily available for homeowners, and it will help you find the best company to fit your needs.​

Smart Snow Removal - Digging out the Right Way

Ah, snow: as it’s falling, nothing could be more serene than this magical winter wonderland. It’s as pretty as a picture – until you have to get rid of it. That’s when the real hassle begins. No matter what your snow removal method is, it’s important to do the job right. That means being aware of the type of snow you have, how to properly lift if you’re shoveling, and the best way to go about snow removal if you’re using a snow plow or snow blower. This winter, be smart about snow removal and dig out the correct way.

PROPER WAY TO SHOVE

You've heard it before: lift with the legs, not with the back. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, nearly 17,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries sustained while shoveling or removing ice. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00060

Keeping your back from suffering injury is possible if you do some stretches before shoveling and lift the right way. If possible, it’s better to push the snow off to one side instead of lifting it directly. If you must lift, make sure you’re bending at the hips, and not using your lower back. Jut your chest outward and bend with your knees, keeping your back straight. Hold the snow shovel as close to the blade end as possible with the other one grasping the handle. Instead of twisting to dump the snow, turn your whole body and then dump the load. To maintain your center of gravity, keep the shovel close to your body and avoid throwing the snow off to the side, which can strain the lower back, advises. Source: http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/snow-shoveling-techniques-prevent-low-back-injuries

SNOW BLOWER SAFETY
Snow blowers have made snow removal so much easier. Clearing your driveway now takes a fraction of the time it used to when you were armed with just a shovel. However, a snow blower comes with its own safety rules. You’re probably already aware you should never stick your finger into the machine to clear out an obstruction, but we’ll tell you the stats anyway: finger injuries and amputations made up half of the 3,300 ER visits in 2012 related to the use of a snow blower, according to Consumer Reports. Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/12/common-sense-tips-for-safer-snow-blowing/index.htm

Before heading out to clear snow with a snow blower, make sure you wear proper clothing.  It’s safer to wear tight fitting clothing, rather than loose pants, scarves, jackets, and hats that dangle at the side. Protect your ears from the noise with ear plugs or muffs to avoid hearing loss and cold exposure. Keep kids and pets far away from snow blowing machines at all times. Push the machine slowly and walk in straight, back and forth lines. If a blockage occurs, shut the engine off before inspecting what the problem could be.

SAFE SNOW PLOW OPERATION
If you own a snow plow and are providing community plow services, there are many safety tips to keep in mind as well. Never plow going faster than 14 MPH, always keep the blade toward the curb when not in use, check the temperature gauge regularly to ensure the engine’s not overheating, and always check for hidden obstacles, such as shrubs, mail boxes, fences, fire hydrants and speed bumps before using snow plows.

Following these safe snow removal tips will help keep you and your family safe during this brutal winter season. Stay warm, stay safe, and happy plowing.!!!

How to Clean Gutters - DIY or Hire a Professional

If you’re like most homeowners, you dread the idea of having to clean your gutters. Depending on your environment, this task might need to be done every month or several times a year. The internet is filled with “do-it-yourself” videos on how to clean gutters, but which method is the safest route for you?

Before we delve into the “how to” portion of cleaning gutters, let’s first discuss why having clean gutters is functionally important to the health of your home. Gutters serve one purpose: to move water away from your home. By design, gutters clog very easily…quickly filling up with debris and standing water.

When your gutters are clogged, they prevent water from flowing away from the home. Instead water will overshoot the gutter, causing damage to the roof line and foundation of your home. As a homeowner, it is essential for you to maintain clean gutters to ensure that they function as intended. There are two ways to clean gutters: clean them yourself (NOT SAFE) or hire a professional gutter cleaning company (SAFE).

NOT SAFE
In order to clean your gutters yourself, you will need to collect the necessary tools. These include a ladder, gloves, plastic bags, a garden hose, and other various items. The tools will vary depending on how clogged your gutters are. Let’s face it, no homeowner has ever said that gutter cleaning is fun: you get on a ladder and pull wet, filthy, soggy lumps of leaves and debris out. This task has to be repeated often if you have trees surrounding the home, or neighborhood pests such as squirrels, snakes, or rats.

Cleaning gutters not only takes time, but it is also considered very dangerous. Homeowners put themselves at risk for injury when getting on a ladder. Each year, countless homeowners nationwide visit the emergency room for ladder related falls.

SAFE
Rather than cleaning gutters yourself, you might want to consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning company to clean your gutters. You can schedule a seasonal service and the cleaners will visit your home once a season to remove all debris from your gutters. This will help save you time and prevent any risk of injury from falling while cleaning your gutters. The only downside to hiring a company to clean your gutters is that you have to pay them for the service. This can quickly add up, especially if they visit your home more than once a year.

What is a better solution to keeping your gutters clean? The answer is simple: gutter protection. Investing in quality gutter protection ensures that your gutters are protected from debris year around, allowing them to perform as intended and prevent clogs. Installing gutter protection on your home gives you peace of mind that your foundation and roof are protected by clean, free-flowing gutters and this will keep more money in your pocket.

So the next time you ask “how to clean your gutters?” consider asking yourself this instead: “why not just get gutter protection?”