Are Gutter Guards Worth Installing?

How Gutter Guards Work and Why You Need Them

Clean Your Gutters Less Often with Guarding Gutter Protections

Your roof protects you from rain and bad weather. Your gutters protect your home and foundations. These crucial roof attachments prevent severe rain runoff from soaking into the ground around your house, ruining your landscaping, and more.

But what protects your gutters? That’s a big – and potentially expensive! – question. For many homeowners, gutter guard systems are the best way to defend their gutters from regular clogs, plus save themselves time cleaning their gutters once every few weeks in winter and spring.

Still not convinced about the necessity of gutter protection? Let’s break down why gutter guards and similar systems work and why you should install them around your home ASAP.

Common Causes – and Consequences! – of Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters can occur to anytime and in any season. But they're most common between fall and spring when debris like leaves, twigs, and ice can overwhelm your home's gutter system and leave the downspouts clogged or worse. Mason City sees over 100 rainy days a year – which bring a ton of water for your gutters to collect!

Depending on your yard’s layout, there may be additional hazards that can cause damage to your gutters and home. For example, if you have a beautiful tree that extends over your home’s roof, critters like squirrels and birds might find your dry summertime gutters to be perfect places to make new nests. Certain bird species, such as gray catbirds or wood thrushes, love to make nests in the gutters of Mason City homes.

But when fall and winter arrive, those nest materials become hazardous. They can lead to clogging, broken gutter pipes, and more. Left unchecked, this kind of gutter build-up can cause significant water damage and other issues like:

• Mold and mildew growth within gutter systems or around your home’s roof
• Cracked or broken gutters, which can become destabilized and potentially fall
• Clogged gutters, which may cause rainwater to overflow and spill into the soil near your home. This, in turn, may lead to foundational instability or cracks over several months or years.

Not only are clogged, broken gutters unsightly, but they’re also dangerous. That’s why you need to know both how to clean gutters and how to get reliable gutter protectors installed by licensed professionals.

How to Clean Gutters Step-by-Step

Cleaning your gutters out can be dangerous if you don't know what to do. Be sure to take proper safety precautions and clean carefully, even if takes a while. To clean your gutters thoroughly ahead of installing gutter guards or other protection:

• First, set up a sturdy, extendable ladder on a stable surface. Use a ladder stabilizer for additional security.
• Next, ascend the ladder and use a small, plastic scoop to remove any gunk from your gutters. If you don’t have a scoop on hand, sandbox shovels or even large kitchen spoons or spatulas can do the job in a pinch.
• Then, use your garden hose or a bucket of water to flush the gutters completely. This will remove any remaining smaller pieces of debris from the gutter system.
• If you see ice in your gutters, melt it with room-temperature water from your hose or a bucket.
• Finally, carefully descend the ladder and remove the gutter debris you dropped to the ground.

Done properly, a full gutter cleaning job will likely take several hours. But you can save yourself that time in the future by installing gutter guards.

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Gutters

• Always use a stable ladder when climbing up to your gutters! Don’t try to reach your gutters using a nearby tree.
• Similarly, do not place your ladder on a shifting or unsteady surface. You’ll run the risk of falling accidentally.
• Don’t dress in comfortable clothing; dress for the job. Wear long-sleeved shirts, work jeans, and rubber gloves. Cleaning out your gutters means you’ll be getting dirty.
• Don’t let the gutter gunk fall to the ground only to have to be picked up later. Instead, place a tarp around your work area so you can quickly scoop up any debris.
• If you’re removing ice, don’t hammer or chisel at it with a tool. You could break your gutter system by impacting it again and again.

Gutter Guards – Are They Worth It?

After cleaning your gutters just once, odds are you’ll see (and feel!) the value of gutter protection systems. When all is said and done, gutter guards provide two tangible benefits to homeowners just like you.

Save Time

First, they save you a lot of time each year. By installing gutter guards, you won’t have to clear out your gutters once every few weeks in the winter and spring. Plus, you won’t have to dread a big cleaning session at the end of fall to clear out dead leaves before ice damming becomes an issue.

You already have to spend plenty of time maintaining your home. Why add gutter cleaning to your list of regular chores when a gutter guard system could save you that time all year long? Even though you may still occasionally need to clean your gutters, it’ll be a far rarer chore overall.

Save Money

Second, gutter protection systems can save you money in the long run. If your gutters get so filled with muck that they become completely clogged with debris, mold, and ice, they could break off entirely. That means replacements are in order – and the cost of new gutters could seriously eat into your vacation fund.

Gutter guards are much more affordable, especially when you install gutter protection systems offered by trusted, licensed professionals who know exactly what Mason City homes need.

Get the Gutter Guards Your Home Needs

There are many gutter guard systems to choose, but the Leaf Protection System from Window World is by far the best choice for Mason City homeowners. This maintenance-free system works even in heavy downpour and prevents leaves, pine needles, and other debris from entering your gutters.

Here’s how it works:

• Waste products, such as leaves or twigs, are sent over gutter rims in a storm
• Meanwhile, free-flowing water is automatically routed into clean downspouts
• The water is redirected away from your home’s foundation, so the Leaf Protection System acts as a superior gutter system all in all
• The System is made with 27-gauge aluminum to guarantee durability and longevity. Don’t worry; this aluminum is thick enough to resist dents from debris but not so thick that it’ll ruin your roof’s aesthetic
• Best of all, the Leaf Protection System can be installed on your existing gutters or new gutters depending on your needs

Available in 21 colors and with a 20-year paint warranty, this protective gutter guard system is the ideal choice for any homeowner wanting to protect their gutters for years to come.

Why wait? Contact Window World’s Mason City location today to get it professionally installed or ask more questions!