Gutters may not seem like the most glamorous part of your home, but they play a crucial role in protecting it — especially if you live in a wet climate. Perhaps the most effective preventative step you can take in caring for your gutters is to attach some sort of cover, filter, or bypass device to keep as much debris out of them as possible. Some homeowners never even think to cover their gutters, only to wonder why they keep experiencing ice dams, clogs, and even damage to their beloved homes. The following basic tips will help you select the right types of gutter protection for your needs.

Gutter Covers

Some gutters come with their proprietary covers, while others take a wide variety of aftermarket products. Gutter covers typically feature slots, holes, or mesh designed to block larger debris from entering the gutter. Leaf guards are designed purely to keep leaves, vermin, and other relatively large objects out of the gutter, while a mesh product can block much smaller debris. You can purchase these products at most big home improvement stores; if your gutters take one specific type of cover, contact your manufacturer to find out how to order it. Whatever type of mesh or leaf guard you buy, you’ll still need to go up on a ladder at least twice a year to clean any accumulated debris blocking or covering the holes.

Are your gutters covered?

The Gutter Hood

Standard gutter covers do their job, but only up to a point. Leaves might not find their way through, but pine needles, twigs, dirt and other debris can and do. For added protection, consider attaching a product such as the Gutter Helmet. This fixture is a hood with a textured “nose-forward” surface that extends out from the roof edge, leaving a small space between the hood’s lip and the gutter. The texturing tends to separate debris from the water that passes on into the gutter, eliminating most potential clog sources. Cleaner gutters also means a less frequent need to risk your health by perching on top of a ladder for routine maintenance. You can purchase the Gutter Helmet through online providers such as Moonworks.

Other Installation Options

One often-overlooked way you can protect your gutters is by relieving the burdens placed on them by faulty installation or substandard materials. For example, do your gutters consist of multiple pieces joined together? If so, be aware that those joints represent possible failure points, and think about addding seamless gutters instead. Ask your builder whether your downspouts are sturdy and large enough in diameter to carry water away as quickly and efficiently as possible. You might even learn that the installation of additional downspouts can do your gutters a world of good.

Proper downspout placement can also help protect your gutters.

From covers and hoods that reduce the risk of gutter clogs to mechanical upgrades that help prevent future gutter failures, investing in the right products can keep this critical component of your home in tip-top operating condition. So give those gutters the protection they need — and enjoy fewer home care headaches for years to come!

(Images courtesy of Jeroen van Oostrom and xedos4 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net)