Leaf relief for autumn

In the next few weeks the leaves will begin to fall, which means plenty of yard work for homeowners. But what's even more important than keeping your lawn clean is ensuring your gutters are free from debris coming into the winter.

Gutters are an important part of the home because they allow water to drain off the roof and away from the foundation. When the autumn comes, gutters often get filled with tree leaves, which can be very problematic in the winter when we get a lot of snow. If your gutters are clogged, the water has nowhere to go, which means it might either seep into the roof or pour down into the foundation, causing expensive and preventable damage. Luckily, I have two simple solutions to ensure your gutters are ready for winter, and the best part is that they are both inexpensive and easy to do.

The first is to get gutter shields installed on your property. Shields can be made of metal mesh or plastic and can either work as a filter or a complete gutter cover. The type of guard you choose will depend on your home and needs, and installation can be done by a professional contractor in one day. For those of you who are handy around the house, you can even install them yourself -  provided you have safety equipment and feel comfortable on a roof. It’s important to note that if your gutters are very old or have been not been maintained properly, you may not be able to cover them.

If gutter shields aren’t an option for you, you can also get your gutters cleaned, which should be done at least four times per year.  Many homeowners tackle this job themselves, but it can be both difficult and dangerous. I suggest hiring a professional, who can not only clean the gutters but can also do a quick inspection to ensure your gutters are in good working order and ready for the winter. Whenever I do a gutter cleaning, I always look for leakage warning signs and report them back to the homeowner so they are aware of any potential problems before they happen.

Gutters that are in proper working condition will save your home and your foundation from potentially expensive and preventable repair. The best part is that solutions are quick, easy, and can give your home the protection it needs to ensure you don't have any unnecessary problems this coming winter.

Give your home a fall facelift

Autumn is one of the best times to give your house a spruce up. It gives you a chance to do minor inspections, fix any damage prior to winter's arrival, and, if you're considering putting your house on the market, it gives you a head start for the fall selling season.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and up keep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long lasting and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and there is no rotting or insect problems that can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash windows are one of the main culprits. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt in sashes for easy cleaning.

Being a home owner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. It's also key to ensure you get the best possible price on your home if you ever decide to put it up for sale.

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you.

Insulation is key to reducing energy costs

With school starting and autumn right around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about the cold weather season ahead. I’m sure you’ll agree that last winter was brutal, so let’s get ahead of the game this year by doing one small thing to keep more heat in your home and give you a break on your electricity bills.

I’ve been in the attics of thousands of homes in this area and I can tell you that 75 percent of them aren’t properly insulated. This means that heat (and air conditioning in the summer) is escaping out of the house and that you are likely turning that thermostat up (or down) way more than you have to.

Insulation acts as a barrier against heat flow, helping to keep the warm air inside the house by slowing the flow and stopping the heat from getting outside. The problem is that most people, especially those who own older homes, do not have enough insulation to keep up with our increasingly cold winters.

How do you know if you have proper insulation? You’ll need to find out where you currently have (or don’t have) insulation, what type of insulation is currently installed, and what its “R-value” is. The R-value is the material's’ resistance to heat flow, so the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating properties. Once you have this information, you can determine how much additional insulation you need, which will be dependent on our Connecticut climate, your house size and what kind of heating you have. This analysis can either be done by a qualified contractor or you can do it yourself if you’re handy around the house.

The United States Environment Protection Agency says that with proper insulation, the average home in our area can save approximately 16 percent in total heating and cooling costs. For older homes, that number skyrockets to nearly 50 percent. So is it worth taking a look at insulation? If you like keeping more dollars in your wallet, I’d say yes.