Eavestroughing and leaf guard systems ...

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering about getting a type of leaf guard system installed when I get my eavestroughs and downspouts replaced, but we've never had this before, and I've got some uncertainties. Those guards keep the leaves and debris out, sure, but do they permit enough water collection into the eavestroughs? So, if there's heavy rain, any chance the flow is too heavy and you end up with water flowing off edge (sort of like a waterfall/curtain effect). If anyone's got input from their experience with this type of system, thanks much in advance for sharing ...

[Anonymous]

Everything I've heard says they don't work.

[Anonymous]

We have them and have never had a water flow issue. As for the effectiveness, of course they do not keep everything out and we still had to clean out the gutters, but the gutters with the leaf guard was much cleaner than the one part of the gutter that did not have the guard (which had mini maple seedlings). I think if we didn't have the small seedling things from the maple tree over top of the house, then they would have worked wonderfully against the normal leaf drop in the fall.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

OP here, PP thanks for that insight ... What I wonder/worry, then, is if the system does also need to be cleaned out, of course isn't that much more expensive than cleaning out a non-guarded gutter? So, they have to unscrew/detach that whole guard system, or at least one end, and then, what, flush it out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, PP thanks for that insight ... What I wonder/worry, then, is if the system does also need to be cleaned out, of course isn't that much more expensive than cleaning out a non-guarded gutter? So, they have to unscrew/detach that whole guard system, or at least one end, and then, what, flush it out?

I'm not sure if it would be more expensive, as we did the clean out ourselves (DH really, I just held the ladder. Our neighbor's house is a little further from the maple trees and they said they hired someone to clean them out but he said it wasn't necessary. I really think it depends on the house and the landscape. We did have to detach the top of the system (they clip in) and then flush out the debris. It was a pain and hopefully it will be good until next Spring.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again, PP ... I appreciate the feedback.

[Anonymous]

p.s., if others have input on their experiences too, please share ...

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, OP here. I'm still hoping to hear from others on their experience with leaf guard systems. One product I've come across, that seems to be the popular choice among eavestroughing companies, is in the Alu-Rex line:
http://www.alu-rex.com/en/index.php

Any additional input is greatly valued ...