Gutter Guards Don't Work and They're a Waste of Money

Window Gang used to recommend our customers use gutter guards on their homes. We even sold and installed them. And then we discovered for ourselves that gutter guards don't work and decided they're a waste of money. So, we removed the ones we installed and refunded our customers' money.

Why Gutter Guards Don't Work

Screens and guards seem like a smart way to block debris from your gutters. If you can keep the leaves, pine needles and other organic matter from falling into your gutters, they won't build up and rot there, right? And if you can keep animals and insects from climbing into your gutters, they won't nest there, right? Not exactly.

Wherever water flows, it carries debris with it. Gutter guards actually can keep rain from washing away trapped organic matter. Once trapped, it builds up and decays.

And, as most home owners know, birds and rodents will chew through anything that's blocking them from getting where they want to go. They can chew through gutter guards. Once they're in, they nest.

Insects, of course, are small enough to get into almost anywhere. And once they're in, they nest, too.

Why Gutter Guards Are a Waste of Money

Home owners who use gutter guards assume their gutters are clear and rightfully so. Their big selling point is that very benefit. But, the reality is, gutter guards trap debris and nests that you may not be able to see until it's too late and water has overflowed onto your home's fascia, siding, and foundation. Cleaning under guards is an extremely difficult task. Some homeowners and service technicians have even discovered snakes lounging in the comfort of all that rotting organic material, protected by the gutter guard.

Gutter guards can give you a false sense of security about the state of your gutters and it can cost thousands of dollars to install them. Don't waste money on a product that doesn't save you time or money on gutter cleaning.

Forgo the expense of gutter guards. Keep your gutters open and schedule affordable regular gutter cleaning service \u2013 Window Gang suggests two to four times per year \u2013 and have a trained technician clean them manually. When an experienced pro takes time to examine your gutters, eaves, and downspouts, they can catch problems before they cause damage.