One of the more unsavory chores we have to look forward to each year is cleaning out our rain gutters. I’m sure there are some people who enjoy climbing up a ladder and tossing out moldy leaves, clumps of mud, and twigs… but I am not one of them. And if you’re reading this article, you’re probably not one of them either. Fortunately, a leaf guard can help. What is a leaf guard? Read on to find out.
And who can blame you? It’s a dangerous, dirty, time-consuming chore. And if you choose not to do it yourself by hiring someone, it’s an extra expense most of us would prefer to avoid. Luckily there is a way to do that. Today I’m going to explain to you what a leaf guard (or gutter guard) is and why you need one.
Why Use a Leaf Guard? To Protect Your Home
Leaf guards come in many forms. However, they all attempt to perform the same function by preventing clogs from forming within your rain gutter. A clogged gutter is a useless gutter. Instead of channeling water away from your home and into a drainage system, a clogged gutter will allow water to pool around your home. The water can weaken the foundation by washing away surrounding soil.
3 Main Types of Leaf Guards
Leaf guards can prevent this from happening without you having to perform the dangerous task of cleaning out your rain gutters. You should clean them every six months or so (or we can do it for you). Here is a list of three popular types of gutter guard systems out there:
- Foam Guards
- Perforated or mesh guards
- Surface tension guards
One benefit of foam gutter guards is that they are cheap and easy to install. That’s because they are simply a piece of porous foam placed inside your rain gutter. The foam is angled so that there is an open space along the bottom of the gutter that the water can flow through. Unfortunately, sand, dust and dirt can clog the pores in the foam and turn into a muddy substance that is difficult to clean out. Once this begins to happen, less and less water will make its way into the rain gutter. This is why we do not offer foam leaf guards.
Perforated, or mesh guards, are effective ways of reducing the need to clean out your rain gutters. However, few of them are 100% effective. Because they use little holes to allow water into the rain gutter, they can sometimes become clogged by debris or twigs. When this happens, you wind up back on your ladder sweeping it all off.
The Leaf Blaster Pro Solution
While many mesh guards are not advisable, one solution truly stands out with a superior design; The Leaf Blaster Pro. With it’s Z-Bend technology, it lifts debris off the mesh so it can blow off naturally, and improves water flow. The mesh blocks even the smallest particles, including roof grit from asphalt shingles used here in Utah. The front trough acts as a motivator for the water to go straight into the gutter rather than dripping over the side.
Surface Tension
Surface tension guards completely cover the top of your rain gutter. This prevents any leaves from getting inside the gutter no matter how small. In fact, twigs, dirt, and other debris are sent flying off the leaf guard as well.
This is possible through the use of surface tension. When it rains, water follows the surface of the curved hood and is directed into the rain gutter. Meanwhile, twigs, leaves, and other debris are directed by the water’s momentum off the side of the house. Any dirt that does somehow make its way in with the water is washed harmlessly down the gutter.
Why Leaf Sentry has the best protection
Of the three types of guards, the surface tension approach is the most effective. However, this is only if it’s installed correctly, and it does come with a higher price tag (for cost savings, try our leaf blaster pro option). If the angle of the gutter guard doesn’t match the angle of the roof properly, no water will make it into the rain gutter. The same goes for surface tension guards constructed of poor quality materials. Over time they can sag or bend which also prevents them from working properly.
This is why we offer the Leaf Sentry protection solution. The Leaf Sentry has a unique nose forward design that makes it superior to other surface tension guards. It’s also made using high quality aluminum and has a lifetime, no-clog, warranty. It really is the best product out there and our professional and experienced staff are experts at installing it.
Hopefully, if you were wondering why to use a leaf guard, we have answered your question. Now we can help you install one. Fill out our secure contact form, or call us today at (801) 676-1048 for your free bid. Let our knowledgeable team of professionals help you find the best leaf guard system for your home!