Clogged Gutters - a Kansas City homeowners worst enemy!

Here in Kansas City most of our homes have gutters and downspouts to capture and direct the water away from our home.  Gutters are the troughs along the roofline that collect the water from the roof, and the downspouts carry the water down the side of the home and into the yard.

Because of the low slope of the gutters, some attention needs to be given to them to keep them working well.

Here are some maintenance suggestions to keep the water moving:

• Clean out your gutters and downspouts in the spring and fall.  Typically you can just take a garden hose and flush them out with some water.  Be sure and get all the dirt moving and flushed away.
• Sometimes the elbows – where the downspouts bend – can become clogged with dirt and leaves.  Be sure to clear any obstructions.
• Check for any leaks at the joints and end caps.  Apply new sealant to these joints as needed to keep them from leaking.
• Be sure that ALL the water is being directed away from your foundation.   You may have to put on extenders or longer splash blocks to get the water far enough away.
• If you have a lot of leaves that clog your guttering, you might consider installing one of the “caps” like Gutter Helmet that is sold here locally in Kansas City.  These allow for the water to easily enter your gutter from the roof, but keep the leaves out!

With some simple yearly maintenance, you can keep the water flowing quickly away from your home.

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Here is how I understand the requirements (be sure and review them yourself) – New replacement windows MUST have a 0.30 U-Factor (value) or less AND a 0.30 SHGC to qualify.

Your tax credit is 30% of the cost to replace the windows up to $1,500 maximum.

So here is a quick example:
If you spend $6,000 you would receive the full $1,500 tax credit.  The windows would need to be intalled between December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2010 to the tax credit from the 2009 Stimulus Bill.

It is up to you, the homeowner, to keep the records that prove the windows meet the requirements.  The IRS will have forms (of course they will) for homeowners to fill out to receive the credit.

So if you are looking for replacement windows in Kansas City – now is probably a good time to make the decision.  I would advise you talk to both the window contractor and your tax professional before making the purchase to be sure the windows you are purchasing meet the requirements.

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1. Kansas City Home Improvement Green Options
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