Gutter Cleaning Services by Mr. Handyman of the Western Main Line

Very few homeowners enjoy West Chester gutter cleaning. It is a tedious and dirty task that can take up your entire Saturday if you're not accustomed to DIY work. Also, it can even be unsafe if you're not accustomed to using ladders. However, it's essential for maintaining your home's overall safety and well-being.

If the last thing you want to do on the weekend is clean out muck, sticks and leaves, then call our pro team at Mr. Handyman of the Western Main Line. By hiring the experts to tackle this maintenance task for you, you avoid the risk of damaging your home and landscaping. When your drainage system flows improperly because they are clogged, they cause a wide range of issues for your West Chester home.

Give yourself the gift of peace of mind knowing that your system is in tip-top condition because you hired our experts to clean it for you. We provide quality services and always put our customers' needs first. In fact, customer satisfaction is always our top priority.

Curious to learn more about the importance of rain gutter cleaning in West Chester, PA? Keep reading to discover our West Chester handyman team's insights into how often you should have your system cleaned, the best cleaning practices, and if hiring the experts at Mr. Handyman of the Western Main Line is right for you.

How Do Clogs Form in West Chester?

Overtime, leaves, twigs and dirt can find their way into your drainage system. This is especially the case if you live near trees or a forested area. Even rain water contains pollutants that are deposited into the drainage system over time.

How Can I Tell if I Need West Chester Gutter Cleaning Service?

You should hire gutter cleaning services in West Chester, PA, at least once or twice a year. However, there are a few signs that mean you should get cleaning service as soon as possible, such as:

• You spot birds, insects or other pests by your roof.
• You notice water spilling over the sides of your house.
• You can’t remember the last time you hired cleaning services.
• The pipes have started to sag.
• You see staining on your home’s siding.
• You see visible plant growth near your roofline.

How Often Should I Hire Gutter Cleaning Services in West Chester, PA?

It's important to keep an eye on your system to make sure the red flags above are not occurring. However, this does not mean you need to climb up a ladder every day to check on them. Rather, by booking regular cleaning appointments you can rest assured the system is flowing properly. The system should be cleaned twice a year for best results, once in the spring and once in the fall. Seasonal changes in West Chester tend to bring a lot of excess debris that gets stuck.

DIY or Hire a Professional West Chester Gutter Cleaning Service?

Gutter cleaning can be an added stress that many homeowners in West Chester would rather do without. Additionally, since you have to climb up a ladder to clean out your gutters, it can also be dangerous, as there is a risk you may fall.

That said, if you are DIY inclined and would prefer to tackle cleaning by yourself, we have a few tips:

• Do not hang onto your gutters. These pipes are not meant to support much weight. It is never safe to hang tools or buckets from them or to use them to support yourself.
• Use the right tools. This includes a ladder, putty knife/blade, trowel and work gloves. You may also want a bucket to put the debris into, otherwise you could make a mess of your yard.
• Use a garden hose and nozzle to knock away any remaining debris and test your gutters once they are clean.
• Pay attention to what areas are most prone to clogging, so you can tackle these areas first.

Why is West Chester Gutter Cleaning Important?

Your drainage system is designed to collect rain water and carry it away from your home’s foundation through downspouts. If either your gutters or downspouts become blocked, water will spill over the edges of your home. Clean gutters are essential for preventing a wide range of damage:

Trouble With Your Foundation

There are a couple of ways that clogged pipes can harm your home’s foundation. If water spills over the pipe's edges instead of draining properly, it could erode the soil around your property's base. It will also pour down your home’s walls, staining and damaging your siding. Most troubling, however, is that the excess water can cause cracked foundations. As temperatures cool during West Chester winters, any moisture pooled around the base of your home will freeze. As it freezes, water expands and contracts, causing cracks to foundation walls, especially those that are already vulnerable because of existing damage.

Cracks are not the only issue that can be caused by gutter clogs in West Chester. The more water that pools around the base of your home, the higher chance it may lead to unwanted stains and mildew growth. Also, excess moisture can cause wood rot to spread. This is true for both slab and pier and beam foundations.

Protect Your Roof

Your foundation isn’t the only part of your home that can be damaged because you didn't hire West Chester gutter cleaning services. When leaves, twigs and other debris build up to the point where the flow of water is halted, or spills over the edge, the standing water can damage your roof, ceiling and attic. Water damage is a serious problem wherever it strikes. Not only will it cause unsightly staining, but it could eventually cause your ceiling to sag and collapse. Regular maintenance to clear clogs will reduce the need for serious roof repairs.

Garden Flooding

Excess water leads to erosion. While some erosion is natural, this process is expedited by a clogged drainage system. The excess run-off can ruin your garden and landscaping. This can happen over time or suddenly. For instance, if there is a thunderstorm or heavy rain and your system is clogged, the excess water overflowing from your roof will land on your garden beds; damaging flowers and causing a big mess. Hire a West Chester gutter cleaning service to prevent this problem.

Erosion of Paved Areas

Maybe you don’t have a garden next to your home, but rather a driveway, sidewalk or patio. This doesn't mean you're safe from the negative effects of not getting regular gutter cleaning in West Chester, PA. Water spillage will also cause the soil supporting these paved areas to shift and erode. This erosion results in cracks, uneven patio stones and moss growth.

Keep Pests Out

A clogged drainage system is practically an insect breeding ground, and an attractive home for all manner of other pests. Birds and rodents will happily set up shop in your drainage system if it is clogged. Mosquitoes particularly enjoy breeding in the standing water. If you notice an increase in the amount of pests around your home, it may be a sign that you need to hire West Chester gutter cleaning services.

Fascia Damage

Fascia is the board that supports your drainage system. It is mounted at the point where your roof meets the outer walls of your house. If you were to stand underneath your roof and look up, you'd be looking at your fascia. Debris like mud, sticks and leaves, along with standing water, is very heavy. If you don't hire West Chester gutter cleaning services, your fascia could collapse under the weight of all that debris.

Damage to Hangers and Brackets

While a clogged drainage system means your home and landscaping are at risk of getting damaged, the system itself could also be affected. Pooling water and debris can become seriously heavy. Your system can't support this weight forever. If too much time passes before you hire a professional gutter cleaning service, the hangers and brackets could rip away from your home and come crashing to the ground, forcing you to make an appointment for gutter repair. Those costly repair bills can be avoided with routine gutter cleaning in West Chester.

What are the Different Types of Gutters in West Chester, PA?

There are three primary kinds you’ll see on West Chester homes. Each variety has its own pros and cons. However, our repair experts can install, fix and clean all the different varieties.

Half-Round

Half-round gutters are the traditional style found on homes built before the ‘60s. While this style is very effective at carrying water away from your home, its shape is prone to clogging. Essentially, half-round gutters look like a pipe that has been cut in half. Since they are curved, they don’t sit flush against the fascia boards and generally require brackets to be held in place. This style requires a lot of upkeep to stay clean and enable water to flow freely.

K-Style

When viewed from the side, K-style gutters look like the letter “K.” This style is most commonly found on homes built post-1960. Since the back of K-style gutters are flat, they can be installed directly onto the fascia board and do not require brackets to hold them in place. They are very popular because they resemble crown molding from the side, and transport higher volumes of water. However, they are harder to clean than half-round gutters because the inner angles are prone to collecting debris that is tricky to remove.

Fascia (Seamless Gutters)

This variety is custom-built out of one long stretch of aluminum—unlike half-round or K-style gutters, which are sold in sections that are then assembled. Since fascia gutters are all one piece, they do not have seams. This prevents rust and leaks. However, if there is a problem, the entire system may need to be replaced.

What are Gutter Guards?

Guards are a barrier that helps prevent debris like leaves and twigs from accumulating and causing clogs. While the installation of gutter guards will reduce the frequency of cleanings, your system still needs to be cleaned regularly if you have them. Like the different styles of pipes, the different kinds of guards each have their own pros and cons.

Brush Guards

Made up of bristles that fit directly into your pipes, this variety traps debris on top of its bristles, limiting the amount of debris that builds up while enabling water to flow freely. However, these guards need to be removed to be cleaned properly.

Foam Gutter Guards

Made of sections of foam that fit inside your gutters to prevent debris from accumulating, the downside to this variety is that plants may grow in the foam and debris could build up on top of each section. Like brush guards, you also need to remove this variety for cleaning.

Reverse Curve or Surface Tension Guards

This kind of guard needs to be professionally installed. They sit at a downward angle, which means that rainwater will be able to fall into your drainage system, but debris will slide off the guards and onto the ground. However, blockages can still happen and sometimes pests like wasps make nests underneath reverse curve gutter guards.

Screen Guards

This variety has holes in it that prevent large leaves and twigs from creating clogs However, smaller types of debris like dirt and mud could still infiltrate the system. While you may have to clean out your gutters less often, you will still need to remove the guards for annual cleaning.

Micro Mesh Guards

Whereas screen guards have small but visible holes, micro mesh guards have holes that are so small they are barely visible to the naked eye. These guards allow water through while keeping debris out. Micro mesh guards are the best option for protecting your gutters from debris. They need to be professionally installed to work properly.

Hire Our West Chester Gutter Cleaning Services Today!

When it comes to West Chester gutter cleaning and repair, our experts are the pros to choose. Not only are we highly experienced and able to fix any water damage that has been caused by clogged gutters, but we're also known throughout West Chester, and nearby areas in and around Chester County like Downingtown for many other outstanding services. We can help with everything from bathroom remodeling to power washing in both residential homes and many commercial buildings.

We pride ourselves on our high standard of excellence and having satisfied customers. Give us a call us today to learn more, or to book an appointment today.