Cleaning Gutters

One of the reasons for moisture in a basement is that rainwater is not carried away from the foundation.  A solution to this problem might be to add gutters to a house.  Once gutters have been put into place, it is important to keep them  clean and to keep splash blocks or gutter downspout extensions installed properly to direct water away from the house.

What you will need to clean your gutters:

• ladder (and a friend to hold it!)
• rubber gloves
• bucket (to put leaves from gutter in)

The process is pretty simple - climb up the ladder and start removing the leaves, pine needles, twigs and everything else from your gutters.  When I cleaned my gutters, I put everything from my gutters into a bucket that I could carry to a compost pile, since I didn't want little piles of leaves and twigs left in the yard.  For more detail on the process, check out the instructions from eHow.  If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, talk to a neighbor, friend, family member or anyone else that might be willing and able to help!  Or, if you are 60 years or older and own your home, contact the Elderly Maintenance Program at 679-2202.

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Mold, Moisture, and Spring

 As spring approaches, many of us may find mold in our homes due to a leaking roof or seasonal flooding in or around our home.  Although mold is natural part of the outdoor environment where it breaks down dead organic matter (like fallen leaves), it can cause a real problem if it is allowed to grow indoors.  

 
Mold can cause the following symptoms:

• sneezing or coughing
• runny, stuffed or bloody nose
• red itching eyes
• rashes and/or asthma attacks
• fever, headaches and others

Mold is able to grow on indoor surfaces that are wet, so it is important to control the moisture in our homes and dry any moisture within 24-48 hours after a leak happens.  If there is mold growth indoors, it is necessary to clean up the mold and fix the problem so the mold doesn't come back.  When cleaning mold off of hard surfaces, use soapy water and remember to use protective gear (rubber gloves, goggles, and N-95 respirators).  Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away.  If the area covered by mold is large (greater than a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch) it may be best to have a professional do the job.

To fix the problem of moisture in our homes this spring, we may need to:

• repair a leaking roof
• clean, repair or instal gutters to keep water draining away from our foundation
• use a dehumidifier
• make sure that basement floor drains are not clogged

Image from eHow Home