License NJHIC 13VH07616300
Have a question before you book? You are in the right place. Below are answers to the questions we hear most often about our services, scheduling, guarantees, and service areas. If you do not find what you are looking for, our team is always happy to help at 862-221-9080.
Core questions about our guarantee, services, licensing, and scheduling for homeowners across Northern New Jersey.
Yes. Our services are backed by a workmanship guarantee. If an issue arises that is directly related to the workmanship of the service we performed, contact us and we will inspect the issue and make any necessary corrections covered under our workmanship guarantee.
NJ Home Maintenance Services specializes in gutter cleaning, gutter repairs, seamless gutter installation, gutter guards, fascia and soffit repairs, roof drain cleaning, underground drain cleaning, hydro jetting, camera inspections, underground drain repairs, and drainage system installation.
We serve homeowners throughout Northern New Jersey, including communities throughout Morris, Passaic, Essex, and Bergen counties, along with select surrounding areas.
Yes. NJ Home Maintenance Services is a licensed New Jersey home improvement contractor and carries insurance for the work we perform. Our NJ Home Improvement Contractor license number is 13VH07616300.
We have been serving Northern New Jersey homeowners since 2012. NJ Home Maintenance Services is a family-owned company specializing in gutter systems and underground drainage.
Scheduling depends on the season, weather, service type, and current workload. During busy periods, most projects are typically completed within approximately 12 to 16 business days, weather and material availability permitting.
Not always. Many exterior services can be completed as long as our technicians have safe access to the necessary areas of the property. Some diagnostic or installation projects may require homeowner coordination.
If we discover a condition outside the approved scope of work, we will explain the issue and recommend the appropriate next step. Additional repairs are not automatically included unless listed in the approved estimate.
Gutter and drainage work can involve ladders, roofs, buried piping, pressurized equipment, and diagnosing how water moves around a property. Professional service helps reduce safety risks and ensures the underlying problem is properly evaluated before repairs are recommended.
Common questions about how often gutters should be cleaned, what is included, and how to know when service is needed.
Most homes in Northern New Jersey should have their gutters cleaned at least twice per year. Homes surrounded by mature trees may require three, four, or even five cleanings depending on tree coverage, roof design, gutter size, and how quickly debris accumulates.
Spring and fall are the most important times for gutter cleaning in New Jersey. However, heavily wooded properties often benefit from additional cleanings during late summer, mid-fall, and late fall to keep gutters flowing throughout the season.
Not necessarily. Waiting until every leaf has fallen can allow gutters to remain clogged for weeks during heavy fall rain. Properties with significant tree coverage often benefit from multiple cleanings throughout the season rather than waiting for one late-fall cleaning.
Common signs include water overflowing during rain, plants or weeds growing in the gutters, visible leaves and debris, water spilling behind the gutter, stained siding, sagging gutters, or water collecting near the foundation.
NJ Home Maintenance Services removes leaves and debris from the gutters, clears accessible above-ground downspouts, bags or removes debris, and performs a visual inspection of the gutter system for noticeable problems such as loose gutters, leaks, damaged sections, or improper drainage.
No. Underground drainage lines require separate equipment and diagnostic procedures. If a downspout disappears underground and the buried drain is backing up or not flowing properly, underground drain cleaning may be recommended.
Overflow can be caused by leaves and debris, clogged downspouts, improperly pitched gutters, undersized gutters, insufficient downspouts, damaged sections, or a blocked underground drainage line connected to the downspout.
Yes. Clogged gutters can contribute to fascia and soffit damage, roof-edge deterioration, foundation saturation, landscape erosion, basement moisture, staining, and ice buildup during winter.
They can contribute to them. When gutters overflow or downspouts cannot properly move water away from the house, large amounts of roof runoff may collect near the foundation and increase the chance of water intrusion.
No gutter guard completely eliminates maintenance. Guards can reduce the amount of debris entering the gutter, but leaves, seeds, roof granules, and organic material can still collect on or beneath the system. Periodic inspection and maintenance are still important.
Yes. Debris-filled gutters hold water and moisture, which can freeze during cold weather. Cleaning gutters before winter helps reduce unnecessary weight, frozen blockages, overflowing water, and ice-related problems.
The right schedule depends on the number and type of trees around the property, roof size and pitch, gutter capacity, surrounding terrain, and previous debris buildup. A heavily wooded property usually requires more frequent preventative maintenance than an open property with few nearby trees.
In most cases, yes. Professional gutter-cleaning crews use commercial ladders, equipment, and proper safety procedures to reach areas that may be difficult or unsafe for homeowners to access.
Preventative cleaning helps keep water moving properly before a blockage causes damage. It also allows developing problems such as loose hangers, leaking seams, deteriorated fascia, or drainage concerns to be noticed earlier.
Questions about repairing versus replacing gutters, sagging, leaks, hangers, and gutter sizing.
Minor problems such as loose hangers, leaking corners, small damaged sections, or incorrect pitch can often be repaired. Gutters with widespread deterioration, extensive damage, poor sizing, repeated failures, or major structural problems may be better candidates for replacement.
Gutters can pull away because of loose or failed hangers, rotted fascia boards, excessive debris weight, ice buildup, improper installation, or aging hardware. The underlying cause should be identified before simply reattaching the gutter.
Often, yes. Sagging may be caused by loose hangers, insufficient support, improper pitch, or damaged fascia. Depending on the condition of the gutter and fascia, the system may be reinforced, re-pitched, resecured, or partially replaced.
Gutter corners and miters can leak when old sealant deteriorates, sections separate, fasteners loosen, or the joint becomes damaged. Many leaking corners can be professionally resealed if the surrounding gutter is still in good condition.
Water behind a gutter can be caused by improper pitch, loose gutters, missing or incorrect flashing, deteriorated fascia, roof-edge problems, or an issue with the drip edge. The source should be identified before repairs are performed.
Yes. When conditions allow, gutters can often be adjusted so water flows properly toward the downspouts. Standing water in a gutter may indicate improper pitch, sagging, structural movement, or inadequate support.
Yes. Loose, broken, or outdated hangers can often be replaced with stronger hidden hangers or other appropriate hardware to improve support and stability.
In many cases, yes. If damage is limited to one area, replacing only the affected section may be possible without replacing the entire gutter system.
Clean gutters can still overflow if they are undersized, poorly pitched, improperly installed, receiving too much roof runoff, or connected to a blocked underground drainage line. Downspout quantity and placement can also affect performance.
The proper size depends on roof area, roof pitch, valley locations, water volume, and the number and placement of downspouts. Larger 6-inch gutters are often beneficial on larger or steep roofs and homes that experience high-volume runoff.
Yes. A gutter system with insufficient downspouts may not drain quickly enough during heavy rainfall. Adding or relocating downspouts can sometimes improve capacity and reduce overflowing.
Seamless gutters are fabricated on-site to fit the dimensions of the home. Because long gutter runs contain fewer joints than sectional systems, there are fewer potential leak points.
A properly installed and maintained aluminum gutter system can last many years. Actual lifespan depends on installation quality, weather exposure, tree coverage, maintenance, fascia condition, and physical damage.
Yes. Gutters must be secured to a sound structure. If the fascia board is deteriorated or rotted, the damaged area should generally be repaired before a new gutter system is permanently installed.
Questions about underground downspout drains, what causes clogs, and how they are cleaned.
An underground downspout drain is a buried drainage pipe that carries roof runoff away from the home after water exits the gutter and downspout system.
Common signs include water backing up where the downspout enters the ground, overflowing from a cleanout or connection, slow drainage, standing water, wet areas in the lawn, erosion, or water collecting near the foundation.
This usually means the underground line is restricted, blocked, damaged, overwhelmed, or unable to discharge properly. Leaves, roots, mud, sediment, collapsed pipe, and poor drainage design are common causes.
Leaves, roof debris, dirt, mulch, roots, sediment, broken pipe, poor connections, low spots, and deteriorating corrugated pipe can all restrict an underground drainage system.
Yes. Leaves and organic debris can travel through the downspout and accumulate inside the underground pipe. Over time, this material can combine with dirt and sediment and create significant blockages.
Yes. Roots can enter through joints, cracks, damaged sections, or openings in certain pipe systems. Once inside, they can collect debris and gradually restrict water flow.
Yes. When a buried downspout line cannot carry water away, roof runoff may back up and discharge next to the house instead, increasing saturation around the foundation.
Yes. Broken, separated, crushed, or improperly pitched drain lines can release water underground and create persistently wet or soft areas in the yard.
Professional cleaning may involve high-pressure water equipment, accessible drain openings, flow testing, and diagnostic equipment depending on the condition and layout of the system.
Not always. A severely crushed, collapsed, disconnected, root-damaged, or improperly installed line may require repair or replacement rather than cleaning alone.
The ridged interior of some corrugated pipe can collect debris and sediment more easily than smoother drainage pipe. Corrugated material may also deform or become damaged depending on installation conditions.
Preventative maintenance can be beneficial, particularly on heavily wooded properties or systems that have previously experienced blockages. Keeping the line flowing can help identify developing problems before a complete backup occurs.
Yes. Multiple downspouts can sometimes share a drainage line, but the pipe must be properly sized and configured to handle the combined amount of water.
If cleaning or evaluation indicates that the pipe is compromised, NJ Home Maintenance Services can recommend the appropriate repair or replacement and provide a separate estimate for the corrective work.
Questions about hydro jetting and drain camera inspections used to clean and diagnose underground drainage lines.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water and specialized equipment to remove debris and buildup from accessible underground drainage pipes and help restore water flow.
The two methods work differently. A snake may create a pathway through a blockage, while hydro jetting uses pressurized water to remove debris from more of the interior of the pipe. The appropriate method depends on the drainage system and condition of the pipe.
Hydro jetting can help remove leaves, organic debris, mud, sediment, and certain root or buildup conditions. Results depend on the type and condition of the pipe and the nature of the blockage.
Sometimes. Many blockages can be cleared, but a collapsed, crushed, disconnected, severely root-damaged, or structurally compromised pipe may require excavation and repair instead.
A drain camera inspection uses a specialized waterproof camera inserted into an accessible drainage line to visually evaluate portions of the underground pipe.
A camera can help identify debris, roots, standing water, damaged pipe, separations, crushed sections, changes in pipe material, obstructions, and other visible conditions when the pipe is accessible and visibility allows.
Cleaning helps remove material that may prevent the camera from traveling through the line or seeing the condition of the pipe. A cleaner line can provide a more useful diagnostic view.
No. Heavy debris, standing water, dirty water, inaccessible bends, damaged pipe, blockages, pipe configuration, or other site conditions can limit how far the camera can travel or how clearly it can see.
The drainage system can still be evaluated using flow testing, system performance, accessible openings, visible conditions, and the technician’s drainage experience. Camera inspection is one diagnostic tool, not the only method used to assess a system.
In many cases, a camera can help identify the location or signs of a collapsed, crushed, or severely damaged section. The exact diagnosis depends on whether the camera can reach the affected area.
A camera may reveal standing water or areas where water is remaining inside the pipe. Additional evaluation may be necessary to determine whether the cause is poor pitch, a low section, blockage, damage, or another condition.
The drainage system is evaluated by observing water flow and performance through accessible openings and outlets. Flow testing helps determine whether the line is draining as expected after cleaning.
If the line remains restricted or inspection reveals a structural problem, further repair or replacement may be recommended. NJ Home Maintenance Services can provide a separate Step 2 repair or replacement estimate when additional work is necessary.
This service is especially useful when an underground downspout drain repeatedly backs up, drains slowly, overflows during rain, has an unknown condition, or continues having problems after basic maintenance.
Questions about repairing or installing underground drainage, pipe materials, pitch, and drainage solutions.
Repair may be necessary when the pipe is collapsed, crushed, disconnected, improperly pitched, badly root-damaged, deteriorated, or otherwise structurally compromised. Cleaning can remove debris, but it cannot permanently correct a failed pipe.
Sometimes. If the remainder of the drainage system is in good condition and the damaged section can be located and accessed, a localized repair may be possible.
Full replacement may be recommended when there are multiple failures, widespread deterioration, poor-quality pipe, significant pitch problems, repeated blockages, or an outdated layout that cannot reliably manage the property’s water.
Pipe selection depends on the property and application. Properly installed smooth-wall or structurally supported drainage pipe is generally preferred because it promotes flow and is easier to maintain than many thin single-wall corrugated systems.
Both can be appropriate when properly selected and installed. Schedule 40 PVC, SDR-35, and quality dual-wall or triple-wall HDPE may be used depending on soil conditions, required strength, depth, layout, and drainage design.
Single-wall corrugated pipe has interior ridges that can collect debris and sediment, and some products are more vulnerable to crushing, deformation, and installation-related problems. More durable pipe is often preferred for long-term serviceability.
A drainage line needs sufficient and consistent fall toward its discharge point so gravity can move water through the system. The required layout varies by property, available elevation, pipe size, and discharge location.
The ideal discharge location depends on property grading, drainage conditions, local requirements, and available elevation. Water may daylight at a suitable location or discharge through another properly designed drainage solution.
Properties with limited elevation may require another drainage approach, such as a properly designed dry well, stormwater chamber, collection system, or other site-specific solution.
A pop-up emitter is a drainage outlet that opens when water pressure builds inside the buried pipe, allowing water to discharge onto the surface at a designated location.
Catch basins collect surface water from low areas and allow it to enter an underground drainage system. They are commonly used in yards, landscaped areas, and locations where water naturally collects.
A downspout drain carries concentrated roof runoff from a gutter system. A French drain is designed primarily to collect and redirect groundwater or surface water through a gravel and perforated-pipe system.
A properly designed drainage system can significantly improve many standing-water problems, but results depend on grading, soil conditions, groundwater, neighboring properties, available discharge locations, and the source and volume of water.
No drainage contractor should guarantee that one exterior drainage improvement will eliminate every possible source of basement water. Roof runoff and surface drainage are important factors, but groundwater, foundation conditions, grading, plumbing, and other issues may also contribute.
The process begins by evaluating where the water originates, how it currently travels across the property, existing drainage, elevation, soil and landscape conditions, available discharge locations, and the performance of existing pipes. The goal is to design a system appropriate for the specific property rather than applying the same solution everywhere.
Questions about accepted payment methods, deposit requirements, and available discounts.
We accept major credit cards, ACH/bank transfer, check, and other approved payment methods. ACH payments are available with no processing fee.
Yes. Credit card payments are subject to a 3% processing fee. Customers who prefer to avoid this fee may pay by ACH/bank transfer at no additional charge.
Yes. Most projects require a 20% deposit at the time of approval, with the remaining balance due upon completion. Certain smaller services may be billed differently depending on the scope of work. And some plans may require payment in full.
Yes. Discounts may be available through qualifying maintenance plans, bundled services, repeat-customer programs, or other promotions. Any applicable discounts will be clearly shown on your estimate.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, discounts and promotional offers cannot be combined. We will apply the qualifying option that provides the appropriate savings for your approved service.
Experience the difference that honest, reliable service makes. Request a free, no-obligation estimate today, and find out why homeowners across Northern New Jersey have trusted us since 2012.
