Do Gutter Guards Need to be Cleaned?
The short answer is yes, gutter guards need to be cleaned. However, they don’t need to be cleaned as thoroughly or frequently as you’d need to clean out your gutters if they didn’t have gutter guards.
Gutters are a critical element of your home’s overall structure and function. They funnel rain and snow runoff away from the base of your house. If your gutters aren’t working properly, your home is at risk of water damage, and the landscape around your home, including your driveway, could erode.
Gutter guards fit over your existing gutters to help keep debris out. This ensures adequate water flow and reduces the need to clean out your gutters.
Gutter guards need to be cleaned to provide optimal drainage. In this post, we’ll guide you through gutter maintenance, why it’s important, and how to clean your gutter guards.
In this article:
- The Importance of Gutter Maintenance
- Gutter Guards Need to be Cleaned
- How Do You Clean Gutter Guards (5 Steps)
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Importance of Gutter Maintenance
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Gutters may be an overlooked piece of your home, but they serve an important purpose and should be regularly maintained in order to minimize the risk of water damage. Clogged gutters also increase the chance of flying embers from a wildfire igniting a fire in your gutters. Listed as one of the many ways to harden your home for fire prevention, maintaining your gutters by removing excess debris like twigs, leaves, and moss can help reduce the risk.
Damaged gutters may also leak or sag, therefore failing to divert the water away from your home. This can lead to rotted soffit and fascia, mold and mildew growth, bug infestations, a flooded basement, or even damage to your driveway. Gutter guards reduce the amount of debris entering the gutters while allowing water to flow through effortlessly.
Gutter Guards Need to be Cleaned
Gutter guards are designed to prevent clogs from forming inside your gutters, but some types of gutter guards require more cleaning and maintenance than others. There are several types of gutter guards, including wire brush, foam, screens, hoods, and fine mesh, and the level of effectiveness varies from one to the next.
The more effective the gutter guard is, the less cleaning and maintenance involved. However, regardless of the type of gutter guard that is on your gutters, we recommend cleaning them periodically to ensure their best performance. With micromesh gutter guards, this is as simple as brushing off any debris that accumulates on the top of the micromesh screen.
How Do You Clean Gutter Guards (5 Steps)
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— LeafFilter Gutter Protection (@LeafFilter) July 31, 2023
Given the range of gutter guard styles available, how you clean them depends on the type. Wire brush and hood-style gutter guards should be removed and cleaned manually since debris can still get lodged in these types of guards. Screens and foam can be rinsed off with a hose but may also need to be removed for adequate cleaning.
The following steps walk you through how to clean gutter guards with a fine mesh screen.
- Be Prepared: Prep the area around your home where the gutters are located using a tarp or ground covering to protect the landscaping. Prioritize safety by wearing proper footwear, safety goggles, and gloves. If you need to use a ladder, be sure to secure it carefully and follow ladder safety practices.
- Remove Excess Debris: Remove any excess debris that’s sitting on top of the gutter guard.
- Rinse the Guard and Gutter: Rinse off the mesh screen guard using a hose. Aim the nozzle toward the downspouts to help direct the water as you clean the screen.
- Scrub Away Stubborn Dirt: Using a soft-bristled brush, lightly scrub away any stuck-on dirt or debris still resting on top of the mesh screen.
- Rinse the Guard and Gutter: Repeat your rinse procedure to clean off the mesh screen again.
For a twice-a-year deep cleaning of your gutters, it’s wise to call a professional to come take care of it. Gutter guards need to be removed to properly clean out the gutters underneath.
Fortunately, LeafFilter gutter guards require minimal maintenance, are guaranteed to remain clog-free, and also come with a limited lifetime transferable warranty.
Made from uPVC material, our gutter guards don’t warp and won’t break down over time. Using surface tension and a specific pitch, our award-winning gutter guards are sealed tight to block even the smallest debris from entering your gutters, allowing water to flow through and away from your home.
Our patented technology is outfitted with a fine micromesh that keeps everything out of your gutters except water, eliminating the need to regularly clean them out. Our micromesh design is also easy to clean: simply wipe them off to remove any loose debris on top of the gutter guards. Call us toll-free today at 1-800-290-6106 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gutters get clogged with gutter guards?
Gutter guards are intended to keep unwanted items out of your gutters so water runs through them without an issue. Gutter systems are designed to divert water away from your house, and a clog inside your gutter prevents that from happening, which can lead to water damage.
Is there a downside to gutter guards?
There are few downsides to gutter guards, depending on the type of gutter guards you have or are considering. Cost may be a factor, but DIY gutter guards can often pose problems.
That’s why investing in quality micromesh gutter guards and having your gutter guards professionally installed is best. Our proven gutter protection system can help lengthen the life of your existing gutters and add value to your home.
How do you clean under gutter guards?
Certain types of gutter guards have to be removed to clean out your gutters and to clean under the gutter guards. This is a good time to call a professional gutter cleaner to ensure the job gets done correctly and safely. Micromesh gutter guards require the least maintenance.
For example, LeafFilter gutter guards use patented micromesh technology to block even the smallest debris, so your drains remain clog-free—plus, you won’t have to worry about frequent cleaning.
See all LeafFilter gutter guard locations and find the service location nearest you.
