Posted on: 2:50 pm, December 28, 2013, by Derica Williams, updated on: 06:36pm, December 28, 2013

CEDARBURG (WITI) After the roof of a Franklin apartment complex partially collapsed on Friday, December 27th, homeowners are being reminded to take certain precautions.

The recent warm up in temperatures along with the piles of snow on rooftops can cause damage to homes.

Itfreezes at night, it thaws during the day and goes down, and it freezes down at the end of the gutter and backs up underneath the shingles, said homeowner Robert Zancig.

After encountering leaks in his home years ago, Zancig says he makes a conscious effort for prevention. Experts say cautious roof raking can help combat ice dams.

Typically you want to just keep the gutter area itself clean but the problem is the farther you go up with the roof raking a note with that some manufacturers, if you roof rake your roof, or shoveling your roof off, they can null and void your warranty on the shingle. If you do it I would recommend you basically leave some of that snow up there let the natural melting occur, said Paul Clemins, owner of Grafton Roofing and Home Improvement.

Ice dams form when there is improper pitching, clogged gutters or improper ventilation combined with fluctuating temperatures.

As the snow builds up, the water or snow underneath tends to melt. Water drips down or drains down to the gutter line so you have heat loss and heat down in the mid part of the roof area when it gets down to the gutter line, its what we call outside air temperature, so it begins to freeze, Clemins explained.

One more tip Clemins offers is to keep an eye on icicles in places that can be detrimental.

You can have water leak out into your soffit vents. You can form the icicles underneath there to the water backing up inside your attic area leading to drywall damage. The extreme would be water pooling up inside there, creating a big enough puddle of water and ceilings collapsing, said Clemins.

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Tips for protecting your home against ice dams

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Middleburg, FL (PRWEB) December 27, 2013

Black Creek Gutters is advising homeowners to start off 2014 by installing new gutters.

As the wettest months in the greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area often take place between June and September, homeowners certainly dont want to be dealing with their gutter issues then. Also, leaves and other debris that collect over time in gutters can cause leaking corners, and even damage a homes wood fascia. If gutters are improperly installed or maintained, they will undoubtedly fail in their purpose of diverting water away from a home or commercial building.

Black Creek Gutters provides both commercial and residential seamless aluminum gutter installation, gutter guards, gutter repair and gutter cleaning. They service all of Clay County Florida, as well as the surrounding areas, including Orange Park, Fleming Island, Middleburg, Mandarin and some of Jacksonville. They have been family-owned and operated for more than 25 years.

The staff of Black Creek Gutters has more than 45 years of combined experience, and is committed to providing customers with quality rain gutters that will last a lifetime. They offer affordable gutter leaf guards as well. If customers have any questions whatsoever regarding which products and services are best for their needs, the staff will sit down and go over the options with them.

Black Creek Gutters offers discounts for senior citizens and active or former members of the military. To schedule a free consultation, please call them at 904-282-7592.

About the company: Whether homeowners need to repair a leaky gutter or have new gutters installed, Black Creek Gutters is here to help. Only a phone call away at 904-282-7592, Black Creek Gutters can answer any questions regarding their products or services. If a question involves which product is best, they will go over every option and evaluate which would work best for their customers home or business. They are fully licensed and insured. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.rainguttersclaycounty.com/.

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Black Creek Gutters Recommends Starting the Year Off with New Gutters

Even county residents that live miles from Humboldt Bay may be polluting bay waters without knowing it. Before pouring anything into the street, gutter or down the drain, think about this: On rainy days in Humboldt County, storm drain contents flow directly into creeks, through the sloughs and marshes, and empty into Humboldt Bay.

The storm drain system is separate from the sewer system, and rainwater and other fluids flowing into storm drains are not treated by the sewage treatment system. Motor oil and antifreeze from driveways, pet waste, pesticides and fertilizers from yards, and muddy runoff from construction sites wash into the streets and storm drains, impacting the water quality of streams, creeks and Humboldt Bay.

The bay is one of the most ecologically diverse bays on the West Coast, but it is large and shallow and has a very small mouth. Because of this, it does not flush well with the tides, and pollutants build up over time.

Just one quart of motor oil dumped into a storm drain can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water, harm the fish and birds living in and around the creeks and Humboldt Bay, and pose a hazard for anyone who uses the bay, including those who rely on it for their livelihoods.

To keep bay waters clean, remember that only rain should go down the storm drain. Park cars on a lawn or gravel driveway for washing, and pour any soapy washing water down a drain connected to the sewer.

Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste in a garbage can. Use pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers sparingly, if at all, and do not apply them if rain is in the forecast.

When possible, use non-toxic alternatives, and do the same for household cleaning products. Take unwanted, toxic household cleaners, paint thinners and used motor oil to the Humboldt Waste Management Authority's Household Hazardous Waste Facility on West Hawthorne Street in Eureka. Used motor oil can also be recycled in Arcata at Franklin's Service, 1903 Heindon Road, or at the Arcata Resource Recovery Center, 1445 10th St.

For a wealth of stormwater pollution prevention information for homes and businesses, visit http://www.CityofArcata.org and search for stormwater, or call Arcata's Environmental Services Department at 822-8184.

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Only rain should go down the storm drains

MANILA, Philippines What do battered wives, partying concubines, and old debts have to do with governance? Not much, but politicos went there anyway.

An election year with the biggest corruption scandal and the worlds worst typhoon could have brought out the best in statesmen. But in 2013, politicians took black propaganda, congressional catfights, and disaster politicking to an all-time low.

Instead of rising above party politics and personal grudges, the so-called distinguished gentlemen and ladies slugged it out and dragged their rivals private lives, including dead parents and troubled children, into the fray.

While petty feuds are nothing new in the circus that is Philippine politics, the level of mudslinging was unprecedented, coming from the biggest names, the highest ranks of government, and the brightest minds during the direst of crises.

For voters past and future, we relive the cringe-worthy moments of the people who landed themselves in the Hall of Shame. It was an eventful year, but these newsmakers packed it with their own action, tragedy, and comedy.

Here are the top catfights of 2013, from bad to worse. Move over, Jerry Springer, this is Philippine politics at its worst.

(Graphics by Mara Mercado)

6. Koko Pimentel vs Migz Zubiri: Bickering enters the bedroom

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Gutter politics: The worst catfights of 2013

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You don't need to completely rewire your home to make it future-friendly. This holiday season, you can buy plenty of plug-and-play devices that will automate and app-control your home, and most of them cost $300 or less. They're great gift ideas for anyone interested in hacking their house, revolutionizing their bathing habits, reinventing their kitchen, or controlling connected devices with the tap of an app.

Above:

Chances are there's someone on your gift list that thinks they have everything. We're willing to bet they don't have a tray that beams all manner of egg-related data to a mobile app. This joint project between Quirky and GE is a 14-spot tray loaded with sensors and a AA-battery-powered Wi-Fi chip. That means it's able to tell you which egg to fry up next (the oldest one) and how many eggs you've got left simply by checking your phone at the supermarket. LED indicator lamps light up next to the oldest egg in the tray, and a light sensor keeps battery life in check by only using power when it senses the fridge door is open. The Egg Minder ($70) displays an egg-centric dashboard via the Wink app for iOS and Android, which controls other devices such as the Pivot Power Genius power strip and the Nimbus personal dashboard.

Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED

If you're out buying groceries and somebody rings your doorbell, does it make a sound? Yes it does, but nobody could say for sure until the Doorbot ($200) existed. This Wi-Fi enabled monitor/doorbell initiates a video call from your front door to your smartphone whenever somebody rings your buzzer. Actually, it's more like half a video call: You can see them, but they can't see you. That makes it useful for talking to delivery men while you're away, answering the doorbell from your couch, or even screening your visitors. The mobile app mimics an intercom, letting you press a button to tell those kids to get off your lawn. The app side of the Doorbot equation is available for Android and iOS.

Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED

If you know anyone who owns a few app-controlled home systems, here's a secret: Their smartphone is probably a mess thanks to all those disparate remote-control apps. Revolv's hub is a multi-protocol wireless receiver with a 65-foot range that also consolidates controls into a single streamlined app. In addition to cleaning up your app arsenal, it'll let you make presets that adjust several of your devices at once; one tap will adjust your lights, speakers, and thermostat to the perfect levels for watching a movie or getting work done. It also uses your phone's location services to automatically perform certain actions -- turn the lights on, flip on the air conditioning, or open the garage door -- when you're approaching your home. Revolv supports several devices in this gift guide, including Sonos speakers, Nest devices, Philips Hue bulbs, and Belkin's WeMo products. It only works with the iPhone and iPad right now, but an Android app is coming in early- to mid-2014 -- as is compatibility with more devices.

Image: Revolv Inc.

The Moxie ($200) is a full-service showerhead with a detachable 1.5-Watt Bluetooth speaker right in the middle of its spray nozzles, making it the most ingenious way to listen to music in the shower we've seen yet. The speaker is obviously water-resistant, but it isn't hydro-powered. You'll need to charge its internal battery back up periodically, and Kohler rates its life at seven hours per charge. The speaker unit's magnetic mount makes it easy to pop in and out, so you can use it as a portable speaker outside the shower too. It'll work with any Bluetooth-capable device that's up to 32 feet away, so you can even have someone else DJ from another room. There are two versions of the showerhead -- one that pumps out 2.5 gallons per minute and another that pumps out 2 gallons -- as well as five different color options for the speaker.

Image: Kohler Co.

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Your Gift Guide to the Home of the Future

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) December 20, 2013

Window Genie has earned the service industrys coveted Angies List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013.

Window Genie is a locally owned franchise offering home services such as window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning and more.

The owners, Mike and Karen Angle, have been servicing the surrounding Southwest Indianapolis areas such as Danville, Mooresville, and Plainfield since 2011. Were extremely happy to have earned this award. We think our team is excellent, it's really nice to have that recognized by our customers on Angie's List, Mike said. Our commitment to customer service will continue to be a priority at Window Genie Indy.

Only about 5 percent of the companies that Window Genie competes with in Indianapolis are able to earn our Super Service Award, said Angies List Founder Angie Hicks. Its a mark of consistently great customer service.

Angies List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an A rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angies List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angies List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angies List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie's List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to healthcare. More than 2 million paid households use Angie's List to gain access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angies List Magazine and the Angie's List complaint resolution service.

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Window Genie of Southwest Indianapolis Earns Esteemed 2013 Angie's List Super Service Award

A rain gutter is a narrow channel, or trough, forming the component of a roof system which collects and diverts rainwater shed by the roof. It is also known as an eavestrough (especially in Canada), eaves channel[1]guttering or simply as a gutter.

The main purpose of a rain gutter is to protect a building's foundation by channeling water away from its base. The gutter also helps to reduce erosion, prevents leaks in basements and crawlspaces,[2] protects painted or stained surfaces by reducing exposure to water,[3] and provides a means to collect rainwater for later use.

Rain gutters can be made from a variety of materials such as cast iron, lead, zinc, galvanised steel, painted steel, copper, painted aluminium, PVC (and other plastics), concrete, stone, and wood. More information on copper rain gutters is available.

Water collected by a rain gutter is fed, usually via a downspout or "downpipe" (traditionally called a leader or conductor[4]), from the roof edge to the base of the building where it is either discharged or collected.[5] Water from rain gutters may be collected in a rain barrel or a cistern.[citation needed]

A rain gutter may be a:

A Box gutter is a deep gutter which is concealed within the structure of the roof.[5]

[7]

Cold forming technology exists to allow continuous gutters to be created, on site, in long individual lengths suitable to roof edge conditions, thereby reducing joints along the length of the gutter. These mostly joint free gutters are referred to as "seamless", and available in various shapes, sizes, and finishes.[8]

Rain gutters can be equipped with gutter screens, micro mesh screens,[9] louvers or solid hoods to allow water from the roof to flow through, while reducing passage of roof debris into the gutter.[10]

Clogged gutters can cause water leakage into the house as the water backs up. Clogged gutters can also lead to stagnant water build up which allows mosquitoes to breed and also allows grasses and weeds to grow in the gutter.[11]

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Rain gutter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia