Tips and Tricks for Clean Living

Tips and Tricks for Clean Living

TIME TO CLEAN OUT RAIN GUTTERS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME:

When it comes to cleaning out those nasty, yucky, rain gutters check out what an excellent roofing company has to say about the Gutter Clutter Buster Rain Gutter and General Cleaning Attachment Tools can do for you.

Check out their unsolicited video here at  http://youtu.be/JO3-LGvuAk4 and then when you need roofing done by an expert don't forget to check them out at www.ExcelRoofing.com 


We love to share referrals with all our friends and associates!  Send us any great referrals you may have for consideration on our site.

Laura

Living Dangerously

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SPRING CLEANING: 

In the event you have been using a ladder while doing Spring Cleaning, including the cleaning of  rain gutters, eaves, windows, or the roof, you may want to consider the following before starting that residential or business maintenance chore. 

Leaning an extension ladder against your rain gutters can dent and damage them. Don’t be tempted to hang a bucket from your gutters, since the added weight can pull the gutter away from the fascia and you will incur expensive repairs.  After you have cleaned out the gutter debris, flush them with a garden hose.  Next, check for clogs in all downspouts.  Unclogging  or cleaning downspouts maybe the hardest part of cleaning your gutters.

We know the cause of moister left in the eaves, valleys, and gutters which attract carpenter ants, termites, mosquitoes, and roaches.  These insects build their nests in moist wood including rotting trees, tree roots, tree stumps, and logs or boards lying on or buried in the ground. They can also nest in moist or decayed wood inside buildings. Wood decay may be caused by exposure to leaks, condensation, or poor air circulation.  Termites are attracted to areas where moisture accumulates in and around your home, including damp basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms and leaky foundation walls.  Roaches carry 33 dangerous and infectious diseases.  Mosquitoes love breeding inside wet, dark, impacted leaves and debris in gutters or vessels that contain rain water.  Mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus and can be dangerous to your health.  Other allergens, pollens, and contaminants also settle into rain gutters that have not been kept clean and when it is windy, can blow this into your surrounding environment or into open windows to contaminate inner living and working areas, as well.

Cleaning Dangerously:
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, about 165,000 Americans require medical treatment for ladder-related injuries each year.  Based on a 1990-2005 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, that number is escalating.  During the course of the study, from beginning to end, the number of reported cases in which Americans were hurt in incidents involving ladders climbed by more than 50 percent.

Other ladder-injury findings from the study:

• More than 2.1 million people sought emergency treatment in the United States for ladder-related injuries.
• Of those injuries, almost 10 percent resulted in hospitalization or transfer to another hospital.
• The most frequently reported injuries were fractures.
• In cases in which the location where the injury took place was recorded, 97 percent happened at home.
• In nearly 77 percent of the cases, the injured party was male.
• According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the World in ladder deaths.  Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.
• Most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.
• Falls from ladders are the leading cause of deaths while maintaining the roof and gutters. 
• Over the past decade, the number of people who have died from falls from ladders has tripled. 

Accidental Fall Statistics:
Gutter cleaning and roofing projects require lots of time up and down ladders. Even if you're fortunate enough to avoid a ladder-related injury, a fall from the roof or off a ladder itself can happen and result in thousands of dollars in hospital and home care expenses, as well as damage to others or surrounding property.  Make sure you have the required insurance for such an accident. 

More Stats on Injuries while Cleaning from a Ladder:
According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Falls were the leading cause of nonfatal, medically treated injuries in the U.S. every single year from 1997 through 2007.
• The majority of reported falls occurred in or around the home.
• Falls were the cause of 38 percent of nonfatal, medically treated injuries in 2007.
• From 1997 to 2007, 71 percent of fall-related injuries resulted in at least a trip to a doctor's office or clinic.
• Of that 71 percent, 56 percent were serious enough to necessitate a visit to an emergency room or the use of an emergency vehicle.
• Between 2004 and 2007, accidental falls accounted for almost 25 percent of all reported fractures

Mortality Rates:
The risk of serious injury in a fall increases, of course, as the height off the ground increases. Falls during roofing jobs can be catastrophic, disabling people for life, or even ending lives.

Here are some sobering statistics to encourage you to think twice before making that climb to your roof:

• The Home Safety Council says that falls are "by far the leading cause of home injury deaths."
• Accidental falls killed 20,823 people in 2006, according to the CDC. That's more people than the Miami Heat's American Airlines Arena seats.
• A 2009 article from the Mayo Clinic listing men's top 10 health threats names falls as one of the leading causes of fatal accidents.
• A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) at Columbus Children’s Hospital, reports that more than 2.1 million individuals were treated in U.S. emergency departments for ladder-related injuries from 1990 through 2005.
  That is more than 136,000 cases annually. This is the first U.S. study to use national data to comprehensively examine nonfatal ladder-related injuries. During the 16-year study period, the number of ladder-related injuries increased by more than 50 percent.
• Nearly 10 percent of injuries resulted in hospitalization or transfer to another hospital, approximately twice the admission rate of consumer product-related injuries overall. Of the cases for which location of injury was recorded, 97 percent occurred in non-occupational settings such as homes.

·       Data showed ladder-related injuries most often occur to males, who accounted for nearly 77 percent of the total cases (81 percent according to 2009 reports). And statistics gathered from other sources indicate more than 350 people die in ladder-related accidents each year and growing.
Fractures were the most common type of injury, while the legs and feet were the most frequently injured body parts.

·       Average age of men injured was 42 but the statistics lean towards a higher figure among those 62 and older.

Still thinking about getting up on a ladder to check or clean out your gutters or your roof?  

 As a Fl. Licensed Residential Contractor, InterNachi Certified Master Home Inspector, Licensed Fl. Home Inspector and Owner of a large Insurance Inspection Company, I have been up and down more ladders in a month than most people will climb in a lifetime.

My own Miracle happened on August 21, 2012. A routine roof inspection;  snap two pictures from the ladder and come down, no problem but on this day, this simple task was anything but routine.

I was descending the ladder, the ladder flipped over, and I fell 8 feet onto a cement sidewalk. I knew when I landed I broke my back. My cell phone in the car and an empty neighborhood. This was a bad position to be in. I was finally spotted by couple on a golf cart, about 45 minutes later, and they called 911.  Upon reaching the hospital the first thing they asked me was, “What were you doing, cleaning gutters?”

Now your product would not have helped on that day; however, my point is this; if a veteran like myself can fall and get seriously hurt; I can only imagine how many homeowners fall every year cleaning gutters. No one around to call for help or hear your cries for help when you fall. Trust me it is a bad position to be in.

James W. Ungar.Certified Residential Contractor, CRC 1330123
Fl Licensed Home Inspector, HI3630
Certified Master Inspector, InterNachi CMI
Lighthouse Property Inspection Services, Inc.
PH: 941.359.1432
www.lighthousepropertyservices.com

Do yourself a favor and stay safe on the ground while vacuuming the debris from gutters, roof valleys, and all the other high and hard to reach areas around your premises which needs cleaning. 

BE SAFE…LIVE HEALTHY…and…STAY ON THE GROUND!

Happy and Safer Cleaning Days Ahead!

Are You Buying 100% American Made Products?

Are You Buying 100% American Made Products?

Have you recently bought something 100% American made? In a poll taken April 11th-14th of 2013, about 45% of Americans say that they have tried to buy products made strictly in the United States recently. There were a few reasons for this, some of which include: supporting the U.S., assisting to create jobs in the U.S. and trying to stimulate the U.S. economy.

Out of the 45%, the greatest reason people bought 100% American made products was to be patriotic which accounted for 32%.

Some other reasons for "buying American" were because U.S. products are of better quality and fear about the quality and toxic content of items made overseas. In total, these two reasons accounted for 16% of the poll.

Although a large amount of Americans, 45%, say they have made an attempt to buy more 100% American made products in the recent past, more than half of the population has not. A recent suds has proved that Americans are becoming more aware of the need to purchase American Made products to help create more jobs and in turn be assisting to improve our economy.

Between the different generations, there are large differences in the way they shop, and why they choose to buy what they do. 61% of older Americans (65 and older) are more likely to "Buy American" compared to 20% of younger Americans (18 to 29). This could be because younger Americans have grown up with products being made overseas and have nothing to compare products that were once made in America.  

Americans Are Willing to Pay More for 100% American Made Products.

Would you pay more for a product if you knew it was made in the USA?

Sixty-four percent of Americans say that they indeed would pay more for an item that was U.S. made rather than a similar product from a different country. 

Since 45% of American citizens say they are making an attempt to buy more American made products, and 64% say they would pay more for American-made products, that means there are 20% of Americans who are not currently "buying American" but who are willing to do so, even if they spend more. 

A majority of Americans think that United States goods are being manufactured with higher quality materials than they were a few years ago. Seventy-one percent say they are a lot or a little better, while 16% think that they have gotten a lot or a little worse. However, those views aren't more common than they were more than 20 plus years ago, at the last time the poll was taken in 1990.

Implications

"Buy American" habits have not completely caught on with the majority of people in the United States. However, almost half of Americans say they are trying to make purchases of more American mad products, and even more say that they are willing to pay more for a U.S. made product rather than one overseas.  They are beginning to realize the importance of what drives our economy to becoming stronger, while lowering our unemployment rates across America.

Supporting the United States and attempting to help the economy have been some of the major reasons people have been "Buying American", but unfortunately, the younger the demographic is, the less they are concerned with buying U.S made products. If the younger bracket of consumers continue to be uninterested in buying American made products, the need to thoroughly understand economic growth and how to bring manufacturing back into America, this may lead to a future increased threat of the continued loss of American jobs and a weaker economy.  Manufacturers in American will certainly be in danger of closing, and the end result, more unemployment across the USA. 

At the same time, there does seem to be a large group of people who don't understand the economic crises and choose not to buy American products when available, but who would be willing to pay more for American made products.

Would spreading awareness concerning the necessity of supporting 'Made in USA' products help drive large numbers of individuals to once again Support America, while creating jobs, a stronger economy and pride once again in 'Made In USA'? Ask yourself that question…and I'm sure you will want to share with others that we MUST bring back manufacturing to America and have the pride our great-grandparents had in their person Made In America products!

Cleaner Living Results in Positive Impressions: Keep Your Home Gutters Clean to Attract Potential Buyers

Since 2008, the housing collapse is finally starting to have an uptick in homes sales

nationwide which is beneficial to many businesses across America.

The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates low and until unemployment rates drop

below 6.5% they have no intent of increasing housing rates. So now may be the time to

consider taking advantage of these facts, as home financing becomes easier.

If you are one of those homeowners wanting to sell in today’s real estate market you may

want to seriously consider completing those home repairs you’ve put off for so long, and

which are desperately needed to put your home on the market at the right price.

An overall general cleaning, including fresh paint, repairs that may be needed on your

roof, rain gutters, windows, storm windows, window trim, screens, front door, interior

and exterior upgrades of both landscaping and hardscaping to give your home a brand

new look and entice buyers to come inside and sign that contract you’ve been waiting so

long to complete.

Home buyers desire to live in a clean home! This cleaner look may entail having

sparkling windows, inside and out. Roof cleaned or repaired if needed. Cleaning rain

gutters inside and out. Perhaps even power washing the exterior of the home or a fresh

coat of paint. Cleaning driveways and sidewalks may also be needed for an inviting

entrance into the interior of your lovely home. Taking special care that the entrance door

is clean or if needed apply a fresh coat of paint to ‘welcome your potential buyer.’

Don’t forget, ‘Cleaner Living results in Positive Impressions.’ The thought here is that

a cleaner, brighter and roomier appearance is what sells 90% of all homes across the

country. So, clear out the clutter in all rooms, including the garage, carport or lanai.

If you have been a diligent homeowner you will have already had the home’s A/C or

Heating unit serviced and kept all exterior and interior plumbing and electrical lines in

excellent working condition. Folks often forget the importance of a clean refrigerator

(inside and out) and to check all appliances that remain with the home in excellent

working order. Keep the garbage disposal not only working to top efficiency but

smelling its best at the time of each inspection by a potential buyer.

While most of the needed repairs can and are often done by the seller as a DIY project,

other sellers may choose to pay professionals to do these repairs and maintenance. Keep

in mind that the more of these chores you can complete yourself, the higher your profit

will be.

On the other hand, the more projects put out for bid to professionals, the more you are

helping to create jobs or help in keeping others working in and across America.

Stay Cleaner…Stay Healthier…and Stay Safe.

Living in the Gutter?

     Rain Gutter Cleaning is one of those necessary household chores that most of us hate to do.  Gutter cleaning was once a nasty, dirty, and unsafe home maintenance chore that was not a fun way to spend your Saturday afternoon. However, if you don’t keep gutters clean there is no way they can function as designed. The purpose of rain gutters are to collect rain water as it runs off the roof and channel it away from the foundation to keep your home from settling, while keeping the siding, windows, doors and fascia from molding and rotting. It still amazes me how many homes across the country do not have rain gutters for home protection.

     We all know that our gutters need cleaned when we see water pouring over the edge of the gutters splashing mud all over the house and the wife’s flower beds are being flattened by the heavy amount of water landing in her garden. If you don’t clean them out after the rain the water stagnates, starts stinking, and breeds mosquitoes (West Nile and Dengue Virus), roaches that carry 33 various contagious diseases, mold, mildew, along with allergens, contaminants and God only knows what else. When it rains again, the overflowing water could back up into the eaves, rot out the fascia boards and roof edge, as well.

     Time to drag out the ladder, find some gloves, googles, a scoop, a bucket, get up on the roof and hope you don’t fall, Getting those high-hard-to-reach gutters or other areas around the home that you use a  ladder to accomplish, can be very dangerous and even cause death from a fall. Lots of fun when you would much rather be fishing or in the case of the lady of the house, shopping. Why do the leaves always have to fall right when you have a thousand other chores to do and no time to do them?

     To save money, time, energy and your personal safety, consider a DIY safer and easier method of cleaning. Upon review of the various methods and equipment available on the market today for the DIY home owner and professional cleaning companies, we recommend you do some research to find the best means for your needs.

     After years of Inspecting and Cleaning roof valleys, eaves, gutters, barns, garages, factories and business premises, as well as other high exterior regions, we suggest you review some cleaning attachment tools that adapt to your wet/dry vacuum with the design to both ‘vacuum’ and/or ‘blow’ dust, dirt, leaves, cobwebs, insects, water and other debris as needed. We recommend that the products be Made in the USA which will be ‘lead-free’, durable, efficient, and designed specifically for safety and multiplicity.