Does Your House Need Gutter Guards

September is one of those months when I start looking up at the trees around my house and thinking about what’s coming. Right now, the leaves are still mostly where they belong. Give it another few weeks, though, and they’ll be on the lawn, in the driveway, and, of course, filling up the gutters.

That makes now a good time to ask a question I hear from homeowners pretty regularly: Does my house need gutter guards?

My answer? It really depends on your house. Gutter guards are designed to keep leaves and other debris from getting into your gutters while still allowing rainwater to flow through. They can be a great addition to many homes, particularly here in Connecticut, where many of us have large, mature trees close to our houses. But that doesn’t mean every house needs them.

To decide if yours is one of them, the first thing I’d do is simply look around your property. Do you have large trees close to the house? If branches extend over or near your roof, your gutters are probably collecting more than just leaves. Pine needles, acorns, seed pods, twigs, and other debris can all end up there. If you're cleaning your gutters several times between September and December, gutter guards may make that job considerably easier.

Next, think about how difficult your gutters are to reach. A ranch with easily accessible gutters is one thing. A two- or three-story house with steep rooflines is another. Cleaning gutters from a ladder can be dangerous, and the harder your gutters are to reach, the more valuable it can be to reduce how frequently they need attention.

Another thing to think about is if your gutters clog regularly. This is probably the biggest clue. If you notice water spilling over the sides of your gutters during a rainstorm, don't ignore it. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a clog, although there can be other causes. Either way, water isn't being directed through your gutter and down your downspout; that's something worth addressing.

Lastly, what kind of debris are you dealing with? Not every property has the same problem. Big maple and oak leaves are different from pine needles or smaller debris. There are several styles of gutter guards available, and what works well for one house isn't necessarily the best choice for another.

There's also an important misconception I always like to clear up: Gutter guards don't mean you can forget about your gutters forever. Even with guards, leaves and debris can collect on top. Smaller material can sometimes get through. Gutters and downspouts should still be checked periodically to make sure water is flowing properly. The goal is to reduce maintenance, not eliminate it.

If you're thinking about adding gutter guards, now is a particularly good time to take care of it. Start by having the gutters cleaned and inspected. Make sure they're secure, that there aren't damaged or sagging sections, and that your downspouts are draining properly. There's no sense putting a new system over gutters that already have a problem.

Then take a look at the trees around your house and think back to last fall. Were you constantly cleaning gutters? Did you have overflowing water every time it rained? Are your gutters high enough that cleaning them has become a job you'd rather not tackle now, or in the future as you and your house age?

If you're answering yes to those questions, your house may be a very good candidate for gutter guards. It's a lot nicer to figure that out on a September afternoon than halfway up a ladder with a handful of wet leaves in November.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Have a question? Email info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” For your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for general guidance only.