Date: April 25, 2022

Many homeowners wonder, “Do I need gutter guards?” The short answer is no; however, choosing not to install gutter guards on a home can create more work and wasted energy for homeowners in the long run. In fact, while gutter guards do come with an up-front cost and require effort to install, many benefits tend to make the initial investment well worth the cost. Here are the key benefits of using gutter guards:

1. Debris Prevention – The primary function of gutter guards is to prevent debris, including leaves, pine needles, twigs, pine cones, gravel, and other small objects, from entering the rain gutter system.

2. Rodent and Insect Deterrence – Rain gutters that do not have gutter guards installed can attract insects and rodents for multiple reasons. Gutter guards prevent all sort of problems that come with clogged gutters by keeping out debris, eliminating pools of water, and blocking insects and animals from entering the system.

3. Fire Protection – Perhaps surprisingly, gutter guards can actually help homeowners protect their homes from fire risk—particularly in areas with large amounts of dry brush and wind. When twigs, leaves, pine needles, and the like build up in gutters and dry up, they create a perfect kindling that can easily ignite if embers from a nearby fire, or even a barbeque, land in the pile.

4. Decreased Maintenance – Since gutter guards prevent debris from entering the gutter system, they decrease the amount of time and frequency that homeowners need to clean them. 

5. Ice and Freeze Prevention – As debris collects in uncovered gutters, it creates dams, blocking water from flowing and creating puddles within the gutters. In cold climates, these puddles can freeze and grow larger as more rain or snow enters the gutter and continues to freeze. 

6. Rust and Corrosion Prevention – Preventing debris buildup and the pooling of water in gutter systems helps to eliminate the deterioration of the gutters as well. 

Source: The 4 Best Guards for 2022