Gutter guards can reduce your gutter cleaning efforts and make your life easier. However, the benefits and drawbacks of gutter guards can vary depending on the type you’ll install, your local climate, and your budget.
Before making the initial investment in gutter guard installation, consider the pros and cons, including pest prevention, the risk of ice dams, and the ongoing maintenance efforts and costs.
Quick Guide
| Pros | Cons |
| • Less Frequent Maintenance • Reduces Risk of Water Damage • Pest Prevention | • Small Debris Accumulation • Installation and Maintenance Costs • Risk of Ice Dams and Gutter Freezing |
Pros of Gutter Guards
One of the advantages of installing gutter guards is protecting your gutters from damage caused by large debris. Aside from creating a barrier, you can reduce the time and effort you spend cleaning your gutters.
Less Frequent Maintenance
Climbing up a ladder to remove debris is a risky yet necessary part of gutter maintenance, especially if you’re afraid of heights like me. Regularly cleaning the gutters prevents debris and water buildup that can damage your gutters and roof. If you install gutter guards, you won’t have to worry about frequently removing leaves and large debris from your gutters.
John Mahland, the president and founder of Spotless Gutter Cleaning & Repair, explains how gutter guards reduce the frequency of gutter maintenance:
“Gutter guards are an excellent addition for homeowners looking to reduce maintenance and prevent potential damage. Their primary benefit is keeping leaves, twigs, and other debris out of the gutters, which prevents clogs.
“By preventing clogs, gutter guards also eliminate the need for frequent and often hazardous gutter cleaning, saving homeowners time and effort while extending the lifespan of their gutter system.”
Reduces the Risk of Water Damage
Gutter guards allow rainwater to drain into the gutters and downspouts. Accumulated stagnant water in the gutters can lead to an overflow of water towards other parts of your home, such as the roof, foundation, and basement.
Because gutter guards prevent clogs, while draining water away from your roof, Mahland explains how this protects your home from water damage:
“This, in turn, ensures proper water flow away from the home’s foundation, protecting it from water damage, basement flooding, and landscape erosion.”
Water damage can cause gutter rust and can lead to expensive repairs. It can also cause mildew and mold in the affected areas.
Pest Prevention
Stagnant water is an attractive home for mosquitoes. Using gutter guards to prevent rainwater from accumulating in your gutters can protect you from these pesky insects. Additionally, gutter guards create a barrier against wasps, rodents, and other pests seeking to build nests in the gutters and potentially infiltrate your home.
Cons of Gutter Guards
While gutter guards have notable benefits, you must consider their drawbacks before installing them. There may be disadvantages that a specific type of gutter guard can solve, or you may find that investing in gutter guards might not be right for your home.
Small Debris Accumulation
Even with gutter guards, the buildup of twigs, pine needles, tree seeds, and small debris can still clog gutters and may be worsened by heavy rainfall. You may not notice this buildup through the covering of the gutter guards. If you live in an area surrounded by trees and foliage, choose a gutter guard that prevents small debris from entering the gutters.
Learn More: Different Types of Gutter Guards
Installation and Maintenance Costs
A professional can accurately determine the correct type of gutter guard and custom-fit it to your gutters and roof. However, the initial investment of having gutter guards professionally installed is one of the biggest disadvantages, especially if you opt for a more expensive material.
Even with gutter guards, you’ll still need to ensure small debris isn’t piling up in the gutters and blocking the downspouts. If this happens, it can lead to water damage in the same way as any clogged gutter.
While gutter guards reduce the frequency of regular cleaning, they still require regular inspection, especially before winter.
While gutter guards reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning, they don’t eliminate it. Mahland adds:
“However, guards or leaf protection are far from perfect, and we clean gutters with gutter guards every day! Even if you have leaf protection [on your gutters], you must still clean them regularly [because] debris still gets inside the gutters!”
Risk of Ice Dams and Gutter Freezing
An ice dam can develop when snow melts on the roof and gets stuck in the gutters. This can damage the gutters and roof, especially when the downspouts are blocked with small debris or frozen. Always check your gutters before winter, and keep an eye on your downspouts after heavy snowfall.
You’ll need to choose a gutter guard that reduces the buildup of snow, ice, and heavy rainfall if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. Micro-mesh gutter guards are a good option to reduce the risk of ice and snow buildup.
FAQs
Yes, some types of gutter guards work in heavy rain. If you live in an area prone to heavy rainfall or hurricanes, ensure your gutter guards aren’t clogged with debris that can block the downspouts and lead to water overflowing onto your roof.
Yes. Investing in gutter guards can significantly reduce the time and effort required to clean your gutters. You can save money on expensive repairs from water damage, mold removal, or pest control.
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Meet the Expert
John Mahland has over two decades of experience in the gutter industry. Driven by his understanding of the role of gutter maintenance in home protection, he founded Spotless Gutter Cleaning & Repair in 2004.
Mahland and his team are dedicated to delivering customer satisfaction. They provide before-and-after photos to show the transformation of their client’s gutters after they use their 5-step gutter cleaning process.
Spotless Gutter Cleaning & Repair is a fully licensed and insured gutter service company that proudly serves homeowners in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
What to read next:
- Pros and Cons of Micro Mesh Gutter Guards
- Pros and Cons of Reverse Curve Gutter Guards
- Pros and Cons of Foam Gutter Guards
Main Image: Closeup of gutter guard on a roof. Image Credit: soupstock / Adobe Stock
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