How To Clean Gutter Protectors, Is It Worth It?

Gutter protectors are one of the most useful accessories that we can install on our gutters. Its main function is to reduce the amount of waste and organic matter that can enter the gutters. Especially useful if we live in heavily wooded areas, as they prevent the leaves from ending up inside the gutters; which means reducing to almost zero the possibility that our gutters will end up clogged. But what happens when you have to clean the gutters, is it advisable to also clean the protectors?

Do gutter protectors need cleaning?

The answer is yes, gutter protectors need as much maintenance and cleaning as gutters themselves. It is true that gutter protectors help us to minimize the cleaning of gutters, but this does not mean that they should not be cleaned periodically. As we have said, protectors are a great accessory for our drainage system; but they cannot retain the smallest particles, which will end up inside them.

Depending on the type of gutter protector you have installed, these will need a cleaning routine or another. It is important to take into account the necessary maintenance and cleaning when installing them, but especially when it comes time to clean them.

How to clean different gutter protectors?

Here are the main types of gutter protectors and how to clean them along with your gutters:

Gutter brush guards

When it comes to maintenance, brush guards are the least desirable. They allow the water to flow optimally, but leaves and organic materials accumulate between the bristles and can easily settle out and end up in the lower part of the gutters. Likewise, if we neglect their maintenance, it is relatively easy that them to end up completely clogging the system.

Gutter cover grilles

Mesh protectors are the easiest to clean. It is a mesh or grid that is installed over the gutters; and that as a strainer prevents waste from entering the interior of the gutters. Cleaning them is as simple as removing them and removing accumulated dirt with a hose or brush.

Gutter Covers

Gutter covers are one of the options whose maintenance and cleaning is more complex. They are usually bolted to the gutters for safety, but this means that removing them is a costly job. They're great for keeping your gutter system in good shape, but cleaning will become a tedious job. If you decide on this system, it is mandatory that maintenance and cleaning be carried out by a company specialized in gutter cleaning. Otherwise, we run the risk of breaking the covers or deteriorating them, preventing them from doing their job properly.

Foam protectors

Like brush guards, foam gutter guards can collect quite a bit of dirt over time. Their great advantage is that they filter the smallest particles, but obviously this makes them easily clogged. Cleaning is relatively simple, just remove them and wash them well with water; Their low cost means that we can also dispose of them and replace them with new ones each time the cleaning is carried out.

In short, gutter protectors are a tremendously useful accessory, even essential if our gutters are exposed to a lot of dirt and debris. Of course, although they help to minimize maintenance and preserve the good condition of the gutters; We cannot avoid cleaning them as much or less than that of the gutters themselves. Remember that proper maintenance and cleaning of the gutters is a vital part of the maintenance work that any house needs. For this reason, it is recommended that you trust specialized companies to carry out the installation, cleaning and maintenance of your gutters.