TAKE A BREAK
As winter approaches, ensuring your home is prepared for the colder months is essential. One often overlooked but crucial task is cleaning your gutters before heavy snow. After all, autumn leaves have fallen and tend to collect in gutters along with sticks and other debris, creating a clogged mess. Clogged gutters can cause harmful ice dams, structural damage, water damage, and more. WINTER’S WRATH An Expert Explains Why Gutter Cleaning Matters PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM
What can be done? Let’s ask Andrew, one of our experts!
CHICKEN, LEEK, AND BLUE CHEESE PILAF Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Q: Why should you clean your gutters? Andrew: Over time, water from a clogged gutter causes mold and water damage to the roof, eves, and the fascia, which is the board behind the gutters. If water is not channeled away from the house, it ends up next to the foundation and in the basement. The weight of trapped water threatens to bend and twist the gutter.
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 cups water • 1/2 cup brown basmati rice • 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder • 1 bay leaf
breasts, chopped • 1 leek, thinly sliced • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced • 1 cup frozen peas • 4 walnut halves, broken • 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• 1 tsp grapeseed oil • 2 skinless chicken
Directions 1. In a large pot, add water, rice, bouillon powder, and bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat oil and stir-fry chicken over medium-high heat until just cooked. Remove from pan, then fry leek until soft. Add zucchini, stir-fry for a few minutes more, then add peas. 3. When the rice is cooked, add it and any liquid from the pot to the vegetables. Return chicken to the pan, then cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in walnuts and cheese and serve hot.
Q: What does the gutter cleaning process look like? Andrew: We clean gutters with a handheld blower and rely upon hand tools and gloves. We guarantee to check all of the downspouts and runoff chutes. For hard-to-reach areas, we utilize a boom truck. Fall gutter cleaning is $190–$265 for regular-sized homes, depending on style and size. For a free gutter cleaning estimate over the phone, text (860) 888-8472.
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