Your gutters play a vital role in protecting your roof, siding, and foundation from water damage. No matter how well-kept your gutters are, one upgrade can benefit every home: gutter guards. Discover four reasons your home needs gutter guards.

1. Avoid Frequent Blockages

Gutters cannot do their job if they clog with leaves, dirt, and debris, but cleaning them is not always an easy task. Additionally, gutter cleaning carries a risk of injury not present in most other home maintenance activities. If you want a way to reduce the frequency of gutter clogs and spend less time on the ladder cleaning them, gutter guards are the answer.

Several different types of gutter guards are available. Each have their own pros and cons. Mesh, foam, and brush gutter guards are common options that can filter large pieces of debris and can be installed by any homeowner. You can choose aluminum reverse-curve gutter guards for more comprehensive debris filtering, but a professional must install them.

2. Deter Pests

As leaves, twigs, dirt, and moisture build up in your gutters, they become an attractive nesting spot for ants and other insects. The best way to keep these pests from taking interest in your gutters is to install gutter guards to prevent these conditions from occurring.

Gutter guards are also great for physically deterring larger pests that could use your gutters as an access point to your home. Birds are notorious for filling gutters with their own nesting materials, but they cannot usually do so with a gutter guard in place. Gutter guards also usually do not leave enough space for squirrels, mice, and other rodents to squeeze through and access your home.

3. Protect Against Rust, Mold, and Fire

Rust and mold growth are two more significant risks of standing water in your gutters. Mold can thrive off of stagnant water and start an infestation that spreads to your roof, potentially causing a leak. The section of your gutters holding water will also rust much more quickly than it should, which can lead to gutter leaks or even an entire section of your gutters coming loose from your roof.

Even during drier weather, debris in your gutters can pose a fire hazard to your home. Dry debris acts as kindling for stray embers from a wildfire or even a controlled fire. Keeping your gutters clean with gutter guards is a big step toward protecting your entire home from the elements.

4. Reduce the Likelihood of Ice Dams

If you have ever noticed tall mounds of snow and ice around the edges of your roof in the winter, you have dealt with ice dams. Ice dams are problematic because the warmth from your attic can cause the ice at the bottom of the dam to melt. This creates a pocket of water between the ice and your roof that can cause shingle and roof damage, mold growth, and leaks.

Another problem with ice dams is the weight that they can place on your gutters. Large enough ice dams can even cause parts of your gutters to fall and potentially injure someone below. While you have no guaranteed way to prevent ice dams, keeping your gutters clear is the best option. Gutter guards help to keep snow and water flowing off of your roof smoothly so that ice dams are less likely to form.

With gutter guards, you can enjoy longer breaks between gutter cleaning while protecting your home from all the issues that come with clogged gutters. Contact us at Rain-Flow Systems, LLC, if you need professional gutter maintenance, cleaning, repair, or gutter guard installation.