Free Turkey

Want a FREE TURKEY? That's right Fauser Home Improvement wants to give away as many turkey's as they can in the month of November! Find out how to get your turkey by visiting our website at http://www.fauserhi.com/.

Winterizing your Roof

Roof preservation takes place in your homes interior and exterior and before harsh winter weather sets in is a good time to take proper precautions.

Outdoors:

• Clean all rubbish off the roof
• Remove old caulking and roofing adhesives, reapply.
• Check flashing for warps or damage. Secure it to siding or other surface.

Indoors:

• Install insulation (in attic or crawl space) to prevent icing.
• Inspect ceiling and walls from the bottom up. If you see or feel moisture your roof could have a leak.

Temporary Fixes:

• If you can see the leak in your ceiling, attach a string to the leak's location, place a bucket under it.
• For small holes in the shingles where the metal flashing meets another part of the roof or structure, use some cold applied plastic cement, first making sure the area of the roof you are fixing is clean.
• Patch a damaged shingle with a piece of metal flashing by placing it under the damaged area.

Keeping your Gutters Clean

Water trapped in gutters can cause major damage to your roof and walls. Maintaining clean gutters helps keep your home in good shape. Follow a few simple rules of thumb to keep your gutters free of debris.

• Most gutter systems should be cleaned 3-4 times a year with each season.

• You can use a bucket but your best bet is to lay down plastic ( garbage bags or a tarp). This way you can throw the waste down and easily remove upon completion.

• Gain access to the roof with a ladder. Don't lean the ladder against a downspout or gutter, which can easily bend or break.

• Using gloves, pull debris out and throw onto plastic, dispose.

• Use your average garden hose to clean out downspouts by placing the running hose down inside the gutter.

The best way to relieve yourself of routinely cleaning the gutters is to purchase Gutter Guards or Gutter Screens.

Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a Free Estimate on gutters and related products! 309/792-3122 or visit us at www.FauserHI.com

How to Winterize Windows before the Frost Comes…

Windows can account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill.  Following these tips will help shrink your utility bill.

• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames to help reduce leakage of warm air.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
• Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
• Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
• Install exterior or interior storm windows. Storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.

*Remember to leave at least one window uncovered for an occasional breath of fresh air.

Saving Money with Your Exterior Doors.

            Now that the weather is changing it is important to cut back on winter utility costs. You can start with your exterior doors by stopping cold air infiltration and hot air loss. Feel for cool drafts coming in areas around doors. Hold something that smokes, like incense, and look for smoke being sucked out along potential openings Seal all high and low openings with weather stripping, spray foam or caulk.

            Weather-strip all exterior doors, including attic hatch, bulkhead door and doors to cold cellars and crawl spaces. Check and replace weather stripping when worn.

            If your exterior doors jiggle when closed, move the striker/latch plate closer to the door-stop so the door closes snuggly against the stop or add new weather stripping that snuggles up against the door.

            Install storm doors - close and latch them tightly.