Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! Why It’s Important to Clean Your Gutters

Manassas gutter cleaning chores may seem like a tedious task—however, it’s a vitally important job to do for the overall safety and protection of your home against severe moisture damage. Overflowing, clogged, damaged rainwater disposal systems can cause some very serious problems for your home, from a leaky roof to a cracked foundation.

It's understandable that the last thing you want to do on your precious Saturday morning is to deal with gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA rainwater systems often become clogged with debris such as dead leaves, dirt, trash, and pine needles. But by not cleaning out your channels and downspouts correctly and promptly, you could risk damaging your home and garden.

If you can't or don't want to climb a wobbly ladder to clean out your overflowing rainwater channels, there's still a way to get it done quickly and efficiently—call your skilled local Manassas handyman for expert gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA homes, and many buildings in other nearby areas have benefitted from our dependable workmanship and outstanding customer service.

Keep reading for expert insights into how often you should clean your rainwater disposal system, the best Manassas gutter cleaning practices and if hiring the experts at Mr. Handyman of Northern Virginia - Arlington to Haymarket is right for you.

Why is Manassas Gutter Cleaning Necessary?

As a homeowner, the upkeep of your house is very important. You've invested time and care into it, and it's vital that your home stays safe and in tip-top shape. Yet, many homeowners are unmotivated when it comes to regular gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA, residents find it time-consuming and dirty, and it can also be a dangerous task if safety standards are not upheld. That said, whether you have traditional or seamless gutters, gutter cleaning is essential to the upkeep of your home.

By design, gutter systems collect rainwater and snowmelt and carry it away from your home's foundation through downspouts. If either your vertical channels or downspouts become blocked, water will fail to redirect and overflow where it should not. The excess water can be destructive to your home. Here are some of the reasons why you need gutter cleaning, Manassas, VA style.

Prevent Foundation Damage

There are a few ways that clogged rainwater channels can negatively impact your home's foundation, and the best way to avoid them is prompt gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA water disposal systems are meant to remove water, so it doesn't erode the soil at the base of your home, among other things. Should build-up compromise your disposal system, the water will no longer flow away from the base of your home. Instead, it will flow over the sides of the channels and pour down your walls, creating pools of water to form at the base of a foundation and cause erosion, cracks, and settling. Additionally, when temperatures drop during Northern Virginia winters, any water that pools around the base of a home will freeze and causes additional cracking to the base of a home.

Avoid Basement Flooding

When water pools around the base of a home—since it is not correctly diverted because of a clogged rainwater system that needs gutter cleaning—Manassas, VA, residents are putting their basements at risk of a flood. Additionally, water may leak into basement walls. This moisture can lead to unwanted organic growth and discoloration.

Protect Your Roof

Your basement isn't the only area that can be damaged because of clogs. Leaves, twigs, and other debris can clog up rainwater channels causing water to flood over and potentially damage your roof. Clogged channels create water pools that may leak into the ceiling, causing water damage and unsightly brown spots on your ceiling. This can also lead to leaks, sags, or even collapses (in the worst-case scenario).

Prevent Flooding Your Garden

Erosion caused by incorrect water flow due to blockages in your system not only impacts the foundation of your home in Manassas, but may also ruin gardens and lawns. Imagine there is heavy rainfall, and you haven't had your channels and downspouts cleaned properly. The extra water overflowing from your roof can fall onto your garden beds, damaging flowers and causing a muddy mess. This can all be easily avoided by either hiring professional services or mucking out the troughs yourself.

Stop Erosion of Paved Areas

Maybe instead of a garden next to your home, there's a driveway, sidewalk, or patio. If excess water is not kept away from these areas by a properly functioning system that has had adequate gutter cleaning, Manassas, VA homeowners may find that the soil supporting the paved areas of their home can shift and erode, causing cracks, sinking patio stones, and other damage.

Keep Pests Out

The debris build-up in clogged rainwater channels makes an inviting home for a variety of insects and birds. Mosquitoes particularly enjoy breeding in the standing water created by a system that is in serious need of gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA, certainly has its fair share of mosquitoes, and stagnant water does not help. If you notice an increase in mosquitoes around your home, it may be a sign that you need to clean out your rainwater disposal system.

Avoid Damage to Your Home’s Fascia Boards

On homes in Manassas and most other places, fascia board runs along the edge of your roof eave, parallel to the exterior wall, where the rainwater channels are attached. Since clogged channels cause water to overflow incorrectly or pool within your rainwater system, this can cause fascia boards to deteriorate and rot.

Avoid Damage to Troughs, Hangers, and Brackets

The areas surrounding your system are not the only parts of your home that may be damaged due to a system that needs gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA homes can also suffer from broken rainwater systems because pools of water and debris can become very heavy. Your system can only hold so much weight. If too much time passes before you unclog your channels, the hangers and brackets can rip off of the house and fall to the ground.

How Do Rain Gutters Get Clogged?

Over time, leaves, twigs, and dirt can find their way into a rainwater system—particularly when you live in a state with such beautiful foliage as Manassas. While the change in seasons is a lovely part of living in NoVA, it also brings falling leaves and other debris that can become stuck in your rainwater channels and downspouts.

How Can I Tell If My House Needs Manassas Gutter Cleaning?

The best Manassas gutter cleaning practice is to unclog rainwater systems regularly. However, there are a few signs that your home is in dire need of gutter cleaning, such as:

• Birds, insects, or other pests by your roof
• Water spilling over the sides
• Channels that have started to sag
• Stains on your home’s siding
• Plants growing in the channels
• You can’t remember the last time you cleaned out your rainwater system

How Often Do I Need Manassas Gutter Cleaning Service?

As important as it is to regularly unclog your rainwater system, it is not practical or necessary to climb a ladder and check on your system every day. When it comes to gutter cleaning, Manassas, VA residents should consider getting service to unclog their system a few times a year: one time in the spring and one time in the fall. During springtime, snow is melting, and any debris that was trapped in your gutters between the fall and winter will be much easier to access. In comparison, the Fall season would be your best opportunity to clear out debris before it gets too cold.

That being said, depending on how close your home is to trees, you may want to get cleaning services for your channels and downspouts more often. For instance, if you have beautiful red maple or scarlet oak trees in your backyard in Manassas, you may also have to deal with more leaves falling on your roof and making their way into your rainwater disposal system.

Can Gutter Guards Reduce the Need for Manassas Gutter Cleaning?

Gutter covers or guards are a barrier that helps prevent debris like leaves and twigs from getting into your rainwater channels and clogging your downspouts. When the guards are installed over top of your gutters, they can reduce the need for seasonal gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA, homeowners have a variety of choices available:

Brush Guards

These guards are made up of bristles and fit directly into your rainwater channels. Brush guards prevent clogging by trapping debris on top of the bristles while enabling water to run through the trough. However, they do also require regular cleanings. To clean brush guards, remove them from your rainwater system.

Foam Guards

Foam guards are pieces of foam that fit inside your trough, which stops debris from entering the system. However, the drawback is that plants can grow in the foam, and debris can then build up on top of that. Like brush guards, you also need to remove foam guards to clean them.

Reverse Curve or Surface Tension Guards

Reverse curve or surface tension guards need to be installed professionally. The idea is that rainwater will be able to roll into the channel, but due to the downward angle of the guards, debris will fall to the ground. However, blockages may still occur with reverse curve/surface tension guards. Sometimes, pests in Manassas, like wasps, make nests underneath reverse curve guards.

Screens

Screen guards have holes that prevent large leaves and twigs from clogging up your gutters. However, they do not completely prevent debris from getting in. While you may not need to clean out your system as often with a screen guard, you will still need to remove the guards and clean them out at least once a year.

Micro-Mesh

Whereas screen guards have small but visible holes, micro-mesh guards contain holes that are so small they are hardly visible to the naked eye. These guards allow water through while at the same time keeping debris out. Micromesh guards are the best option for protecting your rainwater system from debris and offer a permanent solution to clogged channels and downspouts.

DIY or Hire a Professional Gutter Cleaning in Manassas, VA?

If you're like most homeowners, you could do without the hassle of gutter cleaning. Manassas, VA, rainwater systems are often neglected because homeowners simply don't have the time or inclination to get it done. Additionally, since you have to climb a ladder to clean your gutters, it can also be a dangerous job best left to your local Manassas handyman. We have the right tools, such as pressure washing machines for soft washing, to get a channel or downspout unclogged in a flash.

That being said, we happen to have a few tips if you are DIY inclined and would prefer to tackle Manassas gutter cleaning on your own:

• Use the proper tools, including a ladder, putty knife/blade, trowel, and work gloves. You may want a bucket as well to put the debris into.
• Flush out your gutters afterward: Use a dependable garden hose and nozzle to remove remaining debris and test your gutters once they are cleaned.
• Plan your path: Pay attention to the areas of your gutter that are most prone to clogs and tackle those first.
• Do not hang on your gutters: Gutters are not built to support a lot of weight. It is never safe to hang tools or buckets on your gutters or to use them to support yourself.

Benefits of Manassas Gutter Cleaning Services from Mr. Handyman

Whether you're in Manassas, VA, or a nearby community such as Lorton, Fairfax Station, or Alexandria, you can count on the team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of Northern Virginia - Arlington to Haymarket for trusted, quality workmanship and exceptional customer care.

Our team of experts has years of experience when it comes to a gutter cleaning project in northern VA, along with regular maintenance and comprehensive gutter repair services. Additionally, we will fix any water damage that has been caused by heavy rain and clogged gutters. You can rest assured that any handyman task will be done right the first time when it's handled by our skillful technicians.

Contact us today to inquire about getting some help so you can check off gutter service from your to-do list or to learn more about the other services we offer. We help with everything from floor repairs to attic insulation!