The Best Direction to Place Windows on a House

Windows add to the distinctive look of a home, from Cape Cod dormers to the casement windows common on the traditional ranch house. Not only do windows play an important role in a home’s aesthetics, but with the right placement they’ll let in amazing natural sunlight, provide a breeze on a spring day, and offer views of the surrounding landscape. But what’s the best direction for a home’s windows to face?

South-Facing Windows = Top Choice

For residents of the northern hemisphere, the top benefit a south-facing window offers is sunshine. Our city of Cincinnati enjoys approximately Read more »

What Could Be Living in Neglected Gutters

What could be living in neglected gutters

Mosquitoes, mice, and birds, oh my! These are just a few of the living things that can make their home in neglected gutters.

Don’t put off gutter cleaning. When gutters are neglected, clogs can obstruct water flow leading to serious problems. Clogged gutters don’t allow water to divert away from the house. Water that pools near the foundation can cause seepage into basements and crawl spaces leading to mold and other issues. If the water backs up in the gutter, it can seep under the eaves and roof creating costly damage as well. But it’s the living things found in unkempt and neglected gutters that often surprise homeowners.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can spread viruses that make people sick, and in Read more »

The Many Benefits of Natural Light in the Home

Cincinnati enjoys more than 2,500 hours of sunshine every year. You don’t want to miss out on those brilliant rays because of dirty windows. Not only do clean windows look good, there are multiple benefits natural light provides for a home. Let’s take a look at a few.

Energy Conservation

When windows are clean and natural light can flow through into the home, there’s less need for artificial light. Did you know that incandescent lights give off 90-percent of their energy as heat? Additional heat from any source is not something you want during the summer. In addition, any time you can turn off lights and allow sunlight to naturally brighten your home, energy is saved. If you’re curious just how much energy can be saved by switching off lights, check out Energy.gov to calculate potential savings. Read more »

Our Best Tips For Skylight Maintenance

Skylights can add beauty and value to a home, offering additional natural light in rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, master bedrooms, and converted attics. Like any other window, the skylight needs regular care and maintenance. However, skylights are often out of reach for many homeowners. A professional window cleaning team is the best choice for skylight care because they can safely and properly clean and check for issues.

What do you need to know about skylight care? Our experts at United Window Cleaning have shared a few best tips for skylight maintenance, care, and cleaning.

Dealing with Dust, Dirt, and Debris

Dust, dirt, and debris collect naturally on window surfaces throughout your home, and the skylight is no exception. Rain can help wash away some, but it’s not enough. Windows and skylights need regular cleaning because the grime that collects on these surfaces can be damaging over time. Dust, dirt, and accumulated debris on the skylight can etch glass leading to cracks and causing scratches in materials like plastic or acrylic. Read more »

Clogged Gutters & Their Damage to Your Home

Clogged gutters damage to your home

Spring has sprung! It’s time to get outdoors and finally enjoy a bit of warmer weather after a long winter. As we begin the various seasonal chores, from fertilizing the lawn to breaking out the patio furniture, there’s one that can’t be missed. Spring gutter cleaning is essential because clogged gutters can cause serious (and expensive) damage to your home.

Why Do Gutters Get Clogged?

Twigs and leaves are the main causes of clogs in rain gutters. Even if your property doesn’t have any trees, this type of natural debris can collect and cause problems. Leaves, twigs of all sizes, and seed pods are deposited into gutters by wind, storms, birds, and even small animals. Birds and small animals can build nests in your gutters, creating a clog that stops the flow of water. If these nests and other debris aren’t removed, costly damage can occur. Read more »

How Window Cleaning Saves Your Business Money

Window cleaning saves money

The care and maintenance of the commercial building exterior is essential to the overall well-being of a business. The outside look of any business creates the first (and often lasting) impression for customers, guests, and even prospective new employees arriving for interviews. Clean windows make a difference, and a positive impression. Regularly scheduled, professional window washing also has the potential to save your business money in the long-term.

How Ignoring Window Issues Leads to Long-term Damage

Water can be one of the most damaging forces to commercial windows. Hard water, water with a high mineral count, is common in cities and areas of industrialization and has the power to damage glass windows of all types. Hard water typically contains high concentrations of calcium and magnesium which can have negative effects on glass. Read more »

Why Is Commercial Window Cleaning Important For Your Business?

Why does commercial cleaning matterWinter has hit with a vengeance, dropping the polar vortex on a large part of the country including Cincinnati and our surrounding region. As business owners, it can be challenging to keep up with the extra chores a hard winter brings—from plowing out parking lots to shoveling walks and making sure icy areas are properly treated. Window cleaning is one task often lost in the shuffle of seasonal responsibilities. Overlooking commercial window cleaning can have a significant impact on your business. Working with professionals like United Window Cleaning offers multiple benefits that are invaluable.

Check out the top reasons why commercial window cleaning is essential for your business. Read more »

What Happens if I Don’t Clean My Gutters?  

gutter with leavesGutter cleaning often ranks towards the bottom of the chore list. It’s a daunting task, from maneuvering and climbing the ladder to removing debris and checking for proper drainage. It’s easy to ignore the chores we dislike, but gutter cleaning is essential. Debris like leaves, seed pods, twigs, and nests collect in the gutter. If left, this debris creates clogs and the water can’t flow to the downspout and divert properly away from the home.

If you don’t clean your gutters, many different and costly problems can occur over time.

Roof Leaks

Avoiding the task long-term puts your home at risk for shingle damage and roof leaks that can lead to water damage on the interior in the attic, insulation, and behind walls. When debris is left to linger in the gutter, water can back up to the roof and cause costly damage. Read more »

Winter Gutter Maintenance

house in winterWinter has hit, blowing in with freezing temperatures and the white stuff, but gutter maintenance shouldn’t be ignored during this season. Your home needs well-maintained gutters and downspouts year-round and in winter, it’s extremely important. Postponing gutter cleaning and maintenance until the warmer months can result in costly damage to the home’s roof, fascia, siding, foundation, and more.

Check for Issues

Some gutters simply need more attention, especially if there are many trees on or nearby the property. Fall gutter cleaning removes a significant portion of clogging debris, but late season leaf dropping can be a problem in early winter. Soggy leaves, seed pods, twigs, and other debris build up in the gutter and prevent water from flowing to the downspout. As the temperatures drop, water and debris freezes creating issues: Read more »

Tips for Keeping Your Windows Clean During the Winter

window cleaning in winterThe coldest days of the year typically mean less time spent outdoors, but there still are exterior chores that need to be done and that includes window cleaning. Winter window cleaning comes with its own set of challenges due to the colder temperatures and in our Cincinnati area, the likelihood of snow cover. The good news is that Cincinnati sees more than 2,500 hours of sunshine annually and there are more days with rain than snow. On average, we see about 14-inches of snow each year, so it’s possible to get outside even during the bitter cold days of January and get those windows clean.

Reasons Why Winter Window Cleaning Is Important

Dirt and grime accumulate on window glass year-round. In winter, there’s the added detriment of salt spray as well depending on the window’s location. Any debris that lands on windows can cause etching and damage to the glass which can lead to expensive repairs. Removing these particulates from the glass has many advantages. Clean windows brighten the inside of the home during the short days of winter and the natural light helps add cheer. More natural light also means less need for artificial light, helping to reduce energy consumption. Read more »