Are gutter guards needed, and do gutter guards need to be cleaned?
Short answer. Gutter guards are not required by code or by most roof warranties; they are needed only when trees load your gutters with debris often enough that clogs, overflow and frequent ladder work become a problem. And yes, gutter guards still need cleaning, typically a brush or rinse of the top surface once or twice a year, plus clearing debris that collects at the downspouts.
You probably need them if
- Trees overhang the roof, especially pines and oaks.
- Gutters overflow in moderate rain even after cleaning.
- You have a two-story house or steep yard that makes ladder work dangerous.
- Downspouts clog and back water up into the gutters.
You probably do not if
- No trees are close enough to drop debris on the roof.
- One cleaning a year keeps everything flowing.
- The gutters are undersized. Fix that first, since a guard does not add capacity.
Cleaning gutter guards
- Check after the heavy spring pollen season and again after fall leaf drop.
- Brush or blow debris off the top of mesh guards.
- Rinse fine mesh with a garden hose if pollen has formed a film.
- Check downspout openings and elbows, where debris still collects.
- Look at roof valleys, which can still dump debris onto the guards.
Watch for
Water cascading over a guarded gutter during rain means the mesh is coated or the gutter or downspout is clogged underneath. Guards that are rarely checked can hide a gutter full of decaying debris, so lift a section every year or two and look inside. Read gutters, sizing and guards and the roof maintenance checklist.