Protecting your home from water damage is worry-free when you have an efficient and well-maintained gutter system. When gutters work well, you have peace of mind knowing that all of the rainwater and snowmelt is directed away from your siding, basement, foundation, and landscaping. 

A solid gutter system is definitely worth the investment – especially since water damage repairs are so disruptive and so expensive. Since you already know the importance of having gutters on your home, you may be wondering if it’s worth the expense to install gutter guards for added protection. As you sail through the uncharted waters of gutter guards you’ll find out 5 valid reasons why they’re a worthwhile investment for your home. 

1. Less Maintenance

Reduces Frequency of Maintenance

Of course, the extent of gutter maintenance depends on where you live, but essentially, they need regular upkeep. If you live in an area of extreme weather or your home is surrounded by trees or a lot of foliage, you need to check and clean gutters every several months – monthly during the fall. Gutter guards can significantly reduce the amount of maintenance required and they can give you peace of mind knowing the gutters aren’t collecting leaves, needles, and other debris.

Gutter guards aren’t maintenance-free but they can significantly decrease the amount of gutter upkeep required to keep your home safe from water damage. You won’t have to clean the interiors of your gutters nearly as often. Mainly you’ll just need to brush off the tops of the gutter guards to remove the leaves and debris that eventually accumulate. Why is this important? Because when it rains, the leaves and twigs can get stuck in the guards and prevent the water from entering the gutter.

Save on Maintenance Costs

Some people prefer to leave gutter upkeep to a handyman or professional, especially if they have large homes with two or three stories. Once gutter guards are installed, you’ll save on maintenance costs because you won’t have to have your gutters cleaned as frequently.

2. Added Protection Against Clogging, Pests, and Vermin

Helps Prevent Clogging

Everyone who has ever maintained a home knows that rain gutters keep your home protected from water damage. But clogged gutters can cause more damage than having no gutters at all. Gutters can clog quickly, especially in the fall, and when they do, water backs up and finds all sorts of places to wreak havoc. The overflow finds its way under the roof, spills over onto the siding, and erodes landscaping. Gutter guards help prevent clogged gutters because they greatly reduce the amount of debris that can enter and build up in the gutter. 

Fewer Pests and Vermin

Once gutters get clogged with debris, the dark and moist environment provides an ideal nesting spot for everything from insects like wasps and mosquitos to birds and squirrels. Backed-up gutters offer a private and secure home for all kinds of critters to thrive and reproduce, but if you install gutter guards, those little guys can’t get a foothold.

 3. Personal Safety

Climbing the Ladder

We’re not talking about go-getting status seekers, but literally the chore of climbing up and down the rungs of an aluminum or wooden ladder to reach your rain gutters. Climbing a ladder is always risky and the risk grows exponentially when you have to check your gutters every several months. That’s a lot of trips up and down a potentially dangerous object. If you install gutter guards, at least you won’t have to climb the ladder as frequently because the guards reduce upkeep as mentioned in #1 above.

Fire Prevention

Installing gutter guards can protect your home from fire damage. In low rainfall areas of the country, it’s easy to forget about gutter maintenance. They’re out of sight out of mind – up high where you don’t really notice them. However, gutters still collect debris. Even if there aren’t many trees around your home, birds, insects, and wind can carry debris into the gutters. When gutter debris collects in low rainfall areas, it dries out quickly. Dry leaves, needles, and twigs are ready to ignite with just a spark. Gutter guards help keep debris from building up, plus they protect against flying sparks. Just be sure to sweep off the tops of the gutters on a regular basis, especially if you live in a high-fire danger zone.

4. Adds Strength and Structural Integrity

When gutter guards are added to an existing rain gutter system, they can provide additional stability and strength. 

Adds Strength

Seamed gutters are typically made out of a lighter gauge material than seamless gutters. Therefore, they have more chance of developing debris build-up, holes, rust, and sagging, especially at the seams. Gutter guards can help prevent gutters from bending during wind, and help maintain strength by preventing rust from built-up moisture. Guards that are attached to the fascia and lip of the gutter create a box-like structure that adds strength to the gutter system. 

Adds Structural Integrity

If you live in a region of the country that has extreme weather, especially high winds or heavy snow, gutter guards can add significant structural integrity to your existing gutter system. The guards help stabilize the gutters from movement during high winds, intense rain volume, or fast melting snow.

5. Healthier Environment

No doubt you support a healthy environment and certainly want the environment around your home to be as safe and healthy as possible. 

Gutter Guards Help Control Mold and Mildew

When moisture is allowed to settle and remain in rain gutters, it can lead to unhealthy conditions. Moisture doesn’t just accumulate from rain, but it also gathers from dew or water droplets falling from foliage and surrounding trees. The moist environment can provide a perfect spot for mold and mildew spores to develop and grow up into your roof. Mold and mildew can cause a variety of health problems but installing gutter guards can help prevent the build-up of mold and mildew. 

Gutter Guards Help Prevent Insect-Borne Diseases

Moisture also provides an ideal environment for breeding insects like mosquitoes. With mosquito-borne diseases on the rise, plus the miserable discomfort they cause, it’s important to keep moisture from building up in your home’s gutter system. With dozens of types of gutter guards on the market, you can find the best type to keep gutter moisture to a minimum.

If any of the above reasons for installing gutter guards seem convincing and you want to know more, Spout Gutter Pros has the answers. Find out more about the pros and cons of gutter guards, details on the various types of guards that are available, and check out the list of the best gutter guard brands on the market.

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Don’t let water damage rain on your parade. Spout Gutter Pros connects you with licensed and insured pros who can install the best gutter guards for your location and gutter system. Get a fast free estimate now!