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The Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles of 2024 (Tested)
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Pine needles are one of the most common and difficult-to-remove materials that get stuck in gutter systems. When we surveyed 1,000 gutter guard customers, we learned that 23% of respondents experienced pine needle clogs in their gutters. Pine needles can plug up your gutter system and cause clogs in your downspouts. They’re a pain to remove due to their tendency to sit flush with gutter seams and surfaces. One of the best ways to ensure these small nuisances don’t get into your gutters is with our top recommended gutter guards.
To help you find the best pine-needle-blocking products, our team thoroughly researched 16 of the most popular gutter guard companies on the market. We consulted over a dozen industry professionals, analyzed more than 1,000 customer reviews, and tested 12 DIY and professional brands. We scored these guards against our objective rating system, determining which guards offer the best material and design, value, warranty coverage, customer reviews, services, and effectiveness. We found four of these companies to be the best guards for pine needles.
This review focuses on national and regional professional gutter guard installers offering products that effectively block pine needles. Our research revealed that micro-mesh and foam gutter guards perform the best for stopping pine needles. The products in this review feature designs that effectively keep these pesky needles out to protect your gutter system from clogs and simplify annual gutter cleaning. If you prefer a local gutter guard installer, check out our guide to highly-rated gutter guard companies near you.
Key Takeaways
- The best gutter guard for pine needles is LeafFilter due to its tight micro-mesh screen.
- Micro-mesh guards are the best type of guard for blocking pine needles. Reverse-curve, brush, and mesh guards are ineffective.
Compare Our Top 5 Gutter Guard Companies for Pine Needles
The following table compares the best gutter guards based on price, product details, warranties, and other key factors for homeowners. Our survey asked 1,000 customers how much they paid for their gutter guard systems, which we used to estimate the costs for a 200-linear-foot gutter guard system for each brand. The average length of gutters for a 2,000-square-foot home is 200 linear feet.
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Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable |
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Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Aluminum reverse-curve |
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$5,528 | $6,338 | $5,868 | $5,270 | $7,900 |
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Summary |
We recommend LeafFilter. Its ultra-fine mesh guards outperform other products, blocking debris as small as shingle grit, pine needles, and pollen. |
We recommend HomeCraft Gutter Protection for homeowners who want a one-stop shop for their gutter needs. |
We recommend All American Gutter Protection for homeowners on the East Coast who want a reliable micro-mesh gutter guard. |
We recommend Gutter Guards America for homeowners looking for a reliable gutter guard installer with secure guarantees. |
We recommend LeafGuard for homeowners installing new gutters and guards who want an all-in-one system. |
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Promotions |
Now 25% off. Additional 10% off for veterans & seniors | New customers save 30% | Save $300 on full-home installations | 15% off new installations | 20% off your purchase |
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LeafFilter | HomeCraft Gutter Protection | All American Gutter Protection | Gutter Guards America | LeafGuard |
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Video of How Gutter Guard Types Perform Against Pine Needles
If you have pine trees surrounding your home, it’s important to choose a guard that’s effective at blocking their pesky falling needles. This video from Capital Seamless Gutters shows how each main type of gutter guard performs against pine needles, including foam, brush, reverse-curve, and screen guards.
Our Top-Rated Gutter Guard Companies
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Best Overall:
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Best Add-On Services:
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Best Customer Review Scores:
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Best Deals and Discounts:
How We Selected the Top Gutter Guards for Pine Needles
When pine needles fall into gutters, they build up, snag larger debris, and contribute to gutter clogs. These clogs can then result in overflows and costly water damage. To help prevent these issues, we thoroughly analyzed and researched major gutter guard companies and the most popular DIY products online.
We tested 12 DIY and professional gutter guards against different kinds of pine needles, including long- and short-leaf pine needles. We added the needles to the top of each system and applied water at varying speeds. This test showed us not only how well each guard blocked pine needles but also how well its design used water to push the needles onto the ground—something referred to as self-cleaning in this article.
We believe that firsthand experience provides the most valuable insights for products and companies. That’s why we emphasize testing as a part of our research and review process. The brands we’ve tested so far are the following:
- LeafFilter*
- Raptor Gutter Guards by Gutterglove
- Two models by Waterlock
- GutterStuff
- GutterBrush
- Three products by Amerimax
- A-M Gutter Guard
- Home Intuitions Rolled Guard
- Frost King
*indicates a professionally installed product
We used customer reviews and satisfaction ratings from our surveys for products we haven’t yet tested or couldn’t obtain. If a product was unavailable for testing, we didn’t deduct points from that company’s score.
We learned the following takeaways from our tests of professional and DIY gutter guards:
- Micro-mesh gutter guards are the best for preventing pine needles. Micro-mesh systems were the best type of guard we tested for keeping pine needles out of gutters. These guards have filters that are fine enough to stop pine needles and have a flat surface that makes cleaning them off easier.
- The best DIY brand for pine needles is Waterlock. Waterlock’s micro-mesh guard has a finely woven stainless steel screen set into a high-gauge aluminum frame. This guard blocked all pine needles we threw at it and withstood our stress tests. Waterlock is a cost-efficient DIY alternative to a professionally installed product.
- The worst guards for pine needles are reverse-curve and brush guards. Reverse-curve gutter covers (also called gutter helmets) have a small opening in the front, which pine needles can slip into. Brush guards resemble massive pipe cleaners with plastic bristles. These bristles don’t create a fine barrier and have gaps large enough for pine needles to slip right through.
- GutterFoam blocks pine needles, but the quality isn’t worth it. Foam gutter guards can stop pine needles, but they aren’t generally worth investing in. They break down in UV rays, are difficult to install, and are expensive for their quality. We recommend these guards only as a temporary solution or to cover small sections of gutters that have pine trees nearby. For most homes, we recommend gutter guards made from high-end materials like stainless steel.
We use these testing insights alongside our independent research to score each gutter guard on six rating criteria: material and design, cost, warranty and support, customer reviews, services offered, and effectiveness. These criteria reflect performance indicators that homeowners find most important in a gutter installation company.
The chart below shows how the top gutter guards compare based on price versus their overall score in our review standards.
Material & Design
A gutter guard’s design and materials directly affect how well it keeps out pine needles. Gutter guards with a reverse-curve, perforated screen, or brush design won’t completely block pine needles. Micro-mesh guards are the most effective design for pine needles because of their tight filters that the needles can’t penetrate. Guards that use lower-quality materials, such as plastic or PVC, need to be replaced more often since they break down more quickly—this makes them both ineffective as guards and bad as an investment. This factor considers both material and design to assess the overall quality of each guard.
Higher material quality resulted in stronger scores, with stainless steel and aluminum earning the most points. Guards made from PVC, foam, and plastic received fewer points. We assessed each guard based on its overall build quality and construction, awarding more points if it had a discreet appearance, tight filter, and sturdy construction.
The best-performing company in this category was LeafFilter. LeafFilter’s outstanding build and material quality allowed it to block all pine needles during our testing. It uses surgical-grade stainless steel woven into a 275-micron micro-mesh screen. This system was so tight that we couldn't force pine needles between the mesh and frame—the pine needles kept breaking before they’d go through to the gutters below.
Here’s a look at each guard’s performance in this factor:
Value
The value category assessed each brand based on its cost versus the benefits it brings homeowners—for example, by offering a product that prevents expensive water damage from pine needle clogs. We determined value by comparing each company’s product performance, customer service, and general quality-of-life bonuses (such as free quotes, discounts, and financing) to its cost. The company that offers its customers the most value for the best price earned the most points.
In general, gutter guard companies offer decent value to their customers across the board. While LeafFilter came out on top, most providers we reviewed scored above 4 out of 5 stars. LeafFilter’s high material quality, superb customer service, and longevity provide excellent value for its industry-standard cost. LeafFilter’s value really shined in its financing options. It requires homeowners to purchase a system valued at $1,000 or more to qualify for financing. This is generous compared to other companies, like LeafGuard, that require purchases as high as $7,000.
Here are the value scores for our top gutter guard picks:
Warranty Coverage
A strong warranty is a must for home improvement projects to protect your investment in the event of a product or installation failure. We awarded more points to companies that provide long-lasting, transferable, and clearly defined warranties. Transferable lifetime warranties are the industry standard for professional gutter guards, and 15- to 25-year warranties are the norm for DIY products.
We also considered the quality and coverage of the warranty. Many gutter guard companies offer “no-clog guarantees” in lieu of a proper warranty. These guarantees provide no real financial protection as they don’t promise refunds or offer financial reimbursement for damage caused by the system. We awarded more points to companies that provide proper warranties and define them clearly on their websites. However, companies earned more points by offering a no-clog guarantee in addition to a warranty—this is especially important for homeowners looking to block pine needles since this material is known for clogging even high-end systems.
LeafFilter came out on top in this category. It offers a lifetime transferable warranty that promises to repair or replace your system and refunds you 100% of the material price if you aren’t satisfied.
Here are each company's scores for this category:
Customer Reviews
We relied on customer reviews to give us a glimpse into what it's like to work with each gutter guard installer. We’ve read hundreds of reviews (or as many as are available) for each company from multiple independent review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Google Reviews. We looked for consistent themes and recurring pain points in reviews to find potential problems you may experience with each company, such as how well or poorly a product handles pine needles.
When looking at average customer review scores, we considered each company’s scale and the general negative bias of online reviews. Local companies are at a disadvantage compared to larger, more established brands because mom-and-pop companies have fewer reviews, which may not accurately represent the overall customer experience. Disgruntled customers tend to leave more reviews than satisfied ones, which negatively skews scores.
Across the board, gutter guard installers received relatively strong customer review scores. Many home improvement companies score lower than 2.5 out of 5 stars on independent review sites because of the negative leaning of online reviews. However, gutter guard providers often score between 2.5 and 4 out of 5 stars on independent review sites. The companies with the best overall ratings (both in our surveys and in reviews) included LeafFilter, Gutter Guards America, and HomeCraft. Both LeafFilter and GGA have numerous reviews that specify that they block pine needles effectively and reliably self-clean.
Here’s how our top gutter guard companies scored in the customer review category:
Services Offered
Removing pine needles from your gutter system is a particularly grueling chore since they tend to slip into small cracks and crevices, making them difficult to remove. That’s why many homeowners with pine needle problems opt for gutter cleaning services.
Any company that installs gutter covers should offer various services, including gutter cleaning. We awarded more points to companies that provide services such as gutter repair, installation, cleaning, and downspout replacement. We also awarded more points to companies that offer roofing services, such as fascia or soffit repair.
LeafFilter, Gutter Guards America, and HomeCraft received the most points in this category. Each offers an expansive catalog of services outside of standard gutter guard installation. Keep in mind that LeafFilter only provides its services as part of its gutter guard installations and doesn’t sell them independently. Gutter Guards America and HomeCraft both provide their services regardless of guard installation, working more as full gutter companies.
Here’s how each provider scored in this category:
Effectiveness
We used testing results, customer reviews, and survey data to evaluate the effectiveness of each guard. We define effectiveness as how much debris a guard keeps out, how much water it filters, and how easy it is to clean. Under standard conditions, we considered any gutter guard that keeps out 80%–99% of debris while letting in 90% or more water to be effective. We deducted points from a company’s score based on how much debris got through and the amount of water that overflowed.
We also considered general satisfaction ratings from our surveys. We used metrics to gauge both general performance and debris filtration. General performance considered the product's overall performance, measuring how well it handles heavy downpours, how easy it is to clean, and its build quality. Debris filtration looked at how well a system’s filter keeps out materials such as pine needles, leaves, twigs, and seedpods.
Each guard on this list did well in this category, with the best-performing products being LeafFilter, LeafGuard, and Gutter Guards America. Each of these providers scored above 70% on customer satisfaction ratings.
Here’s how each company fared in our effectiveness rating:
Our Top Gutter Guard Picks for Pine Needles
For this review, we only reviewed guards that effectively stop pine needles from entering the gutter system. Even if a guard scored highly in our general review criteria, it didn’t make the list if it couldn’t block pine needles well. For example, LeafGuard’s system is one of our top-rated products, but its reverse-curve design handles pine needles poorly, so it was excluded.
Best Overall: LeafFilter
What We Liked
- Features a flat, micro-mesh filter that blocked pine needles during firsthand testing
- Offers a transferable lifetime warranty instead of a performance guarantee
- Has a 79% satisfaction rating from surveyed homeowners
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t offer add-on services outside of installation
- Has customer complaints of aggressive sales tactics
Our Scores
We gave LeafFilter 4.7 out of 5 stars. It scored highest in “Customer Reviews” and “Warranty Coverage.” Its lowest score was in the “Services Offered” category.
Our Review
Our firsthand testing and thorough research have led us to believe LeafFilter is the best gutter guard for blocking pine needles. Its ultra-fine 275-micron, surgical-grade stainless steel mesh screen is durable and fine enough to block debris as small as shingle grit. We looked at its filter’s ability to block long- and short-leaf pine needles. During testing, it blocked both types. We tried to force pine needles between the guard and frame—each needle broke before we could get it to penetrate the guard.
In addition to LeafFilter’s ability to block pine needles, we learned the following from our testing process:
- The system lets water pass through without overflowing, even during heavy rain. We applied water equivalent to a downpour, and the system handled the deluge without overflowing.
- Its micro-mesh screens performed the best out of every guard we tested. It kept out materials as small as pollen without clogging.
- It was exceptionally easy to clean. Even materials that would normally be difficult to remove, like pine needles, came off with a light spray from a garden home or a gentle brushing.
In our survey of the most popular gutter guard companies, 129 LeafFilter customers revealed a standard 200-linear-foot system costs an average of $5,528, or $27.64 per linear foot. This price is in line with the industry standard cost of a professionally installed micro-mesh gutter guard. LeafFilter also scored highly for customer satisfaction, with 79% of our respondents being either satisfied or very satisfied.
One common issue mentioned by LeafFilter’s customers is its lack of freely available services. Multiple reviews we read expressed frustration that LeafFilter doesn't offer services like gutter cleaning or repair outside of standard installations, which is frustrating if you don’t want to take on the task of cleaning pine needles off of your guards or out of your gutters. If your system gets covered in pine needles but doesn't clog, it won’t be covered under LeafFilter’s no-clog guarantee or warranty, meaning you’ll need to clean the system yourself.
Customer Reviews
- Easy to clean
- Great filtration
- Professional representatives
- Aggressive sales tactics
LeafFilter has some of the most impressive customer review scores we’ve seen. Its Better Business Bureau (BBB) page has more than 6,000 reviews, with an average score of 3.9 out of 5 stars. Its Trustpilot page is even more impressive, with 123,000 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Reviews indicate that customers are pleased with LeafFilter’s gutter guard and representatives. According to customers, LeafFilter’s system blocks pine needles and other small debris like pollen and shingle grit. We read multiple reviews noting the impressive performance of LeafFilter’s guard at handling pine needles and other small debris. One customer mentioned that they had a small cluster of pine trees along their yard and haven't had issues with overflows since installing LeafFilter.
Negative comments cite pushy sales tactics and callback problems. For example, one customer claimed they needed to get their roof replaced due to hail damage, requiring LeafFilter to temporarily remove the system, but hadn’t heard back after leaving multiple messages. Interestingly, this 2-out-of-5-star review mentioned that the guard performed very well at handling pine needles—despite the dropped communication, this showed us how impressive the system’s performance is.
Best Add-On Services: HomeCraft Gutter Protection
New customers save 30%
What We Liked
- Features a tight-mesh screen that blocks pine needles and other debris
- Has a family-owned business mentality, paying personal attention to customers
- Provides a wide selection of gutter-related services
What We Didn’t Like
- May have poor communication post-installation, according to reviews
- Has inconsistent installation quality
Our Score
HomeCraft received 4.2 out of 5 stars. It did best in the “Value” and “Customer Reviews” categories but scored lower in “Warranty Coverage” and “Effectiveness.”
Our Review
HomeCraft Gutter Protection stands out for its selection of additional services, which make it a one-stop shop for your gutter needs. These services include gutter repair, cleaning, and replacement, among others. While most companies offer gutter guard installation, few offer the wide selection of services that HomeCraft provides independent of its installations. If you’re tired of cleaning pine needles out of your system or off of the top of your guards, HomeCraft can do it for you.
HomeCraft’s filter is made from 304-marine-grade stainless steel. Its frame uses powder-coated aluminum supported by a series of hidden, reinforcing hangers. Its system self-cleans exceptionally well thanks to its built-in pitch, reducing future maintenance. HomeCraft’s high-quality material, tightly set frame, and efficient design allow it to block pine needles and push them off with water. Guards like HomeCraft help reduce the time and energy needed to clean and maintain your gutter system. Because of this, we awarded HomeCraft 4 out of 5 stars in the materials and design category.
HomeCraft’s screen uses a unique diamond pattern called “raised screen technology.” We’re unsure how much this design aids water flow and debris removal, but we think it adds a nice aesthetic flair to the system.
The 100 HomeCraft customers we surveyed revealed that a 200-linear-foot system costs an average of $6,338, or $31.69 per linear foot. This means that HomeCraft is roughly $2,000 more expensive than the industry standard.
Customer Reviews
- Attentive representatives
- Prompt technicians
- Easy-to-clean guard
- Poor communication
HomeCraft has just under 100 reviews with an average score of 2.35 out of 5 stars on the BBB. On Trustpilot, it has around 250 reviews with a 4.4 out of 5 star rating. Overall, it has fewer reviews than most other gutter guard providers but still enough responses to get an idea of the customer experience.
Positive reviews note HomeCraft’s superb customer service, including polite representatives and speedy installers. One review we read explained that the representative they spoke to was polite and professional and didn't pressure them to make a deal. The reviewer mentioned they have multiple maple and pine trees around their home but haven't had a clog or water overflow since HomeCraft was installed.
However, some critical reviewers point to debris settling on top of the gutter guard, including leaves and pine needles. For example, one customer wasn’t happy about having to pay $90 for gutter cleaning even though they bought gutter guards. This complaint is common among gutter guard companies and comes from the misconception that gutter guards end the need for consistent cleaning. While gutter guards make cleaning your gutters quicker, easier, and less frequent, you’ll still need to clean off debris once a year or so.
Best Deals and Discounts: All American Gutter Protection
What We Liked
- Features a micro-mesh screen that blocks pine needles
- Has extra protection with a sub-structure that shields the system from impacts
- Provides various discounts to make its price more affordable
What We Didn’t Like
- Doesn’t offer additional services like gutter cleaning or repair
- Scored lower in satisfaction ratings in our survey
Our Score
All American Gutter Protection earned a score of 3.9 out of 5 stars. It scored best in the “Material & Design” and “Value” categories but poorly in “Services Offered.”
Our Review
All American Gutter Protection uses a stainless steel micro-mesh filter, similar to LeafFilter and HomeCraft. However, unlike other providers, All American’s product has an extra-thick substructure that provides additional reinforcement and durability. This guard essentially stacks a perforated screen guard underneath its micro-mesh filter.
This design allows All American’s system to not only stop pine needles but also withstand impacts from tree limbs, hail, and other heavy debris. The downside is that it limits the amount of water that can enter the system at one time. Because of this, we don’t recommend these guards for homeowners in rainy climates.
We surveyed 200 All American customers to learn more about its performance and price. We found that customers paid an average of $5,868 for their 200-linear foot All American gutter guard. This price is above the industry average of $4,300. We think it's worth the price for its high material and design quality. Since its system is made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and aluminum, it should last 20 years. All American also has several discounts you can use to make its system more affordable, such as its senior and military discounts, a $300 off program, and a 20%-off offer.
Customer Reviews
- Durable guard
- Skilled technicians
- Polite representatives
- Mixed reviews
All American Gutter Protection has the smallest pool of reviews out of every company in this article. On Trustpilot, All American only has a single review. Its BBB page offers 49 reviews, with an average score of 3.2 out of 5 stars. Unfortunately, we don’t think there’s a large enough sample size of reviews to get an accurate glimpse into All American's performance.
To remedy this, we surveyed 200 All American customers. According to our results, 71% of respondents were satisfied with the performance of their All American systems. The average percentage of satisfied customers out of every company we surveyed was 72.6%, meaning that All American falls in line with the industry average for customer satisfaction. Of our respondents, 102 noted previous issues with pine needles, and only six of those were unsatisfied with the performance of the guard.
While All American has fewer online reviews than other companies, many of the reviews we read praise All American for its impressive system. However, other reviews mention frequent communication issues. One customer was unhappy with the quality of the installation, citing gaps where pine needles could still get in. They called the local office back, had to wait for a repair to be scheduled, and then experienced multiple delays and other scheduling issues.
Best Customer Review Scores: Gutter Guards America
15% off new installations
What We Liked
- Is U.S.-made, unlike many gutter guard brands
- Uses a filter made from surgical-grade stainless steel that blocks pine needles
- Has more additional services than other companies
What We Didn’t Like
- Uses misleading advertisements that guards keep you off ladders
- Lacks warranty details on its website, such as exclusions and conditions
Our Score
Gutter Guards America earned a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It did best in the “Services Offered” and “Customer Reviews” categories and worst in “Warranty Coverage.”
Our Review
Gutter Guards America’s system stands out thanks to its unique design and impressive material quality. It incorporates a stainless steel micro-mesh screen, an aluminum base, and a galvanized steel louvered frame. The system’s mesh screen has a wave-like pattern designed to improve water filtration and self-cleaning.
This guard is the lowest on our list because some customers complain of pine needles and shingle grit buildup. We blame this issue on the filter's design and the small gaps created by its pattern. While we still think that this guard performs better than most other guards on the market, this issue sets it below other guards on this list.
However, most customers are pleased with Gutter Guards America. Our survey of nearly 300 GGA customers revealed it has the highest satisfaction score of every company we reviewed, at 89%. Of these respondents, 94 homeowners had previous issues with pine needles in their gutter systems, and only 8 of them were unsatisfied with the guards. We also found that its price is in line with the industry standard, with responses indicating an average price of $5,270 for a 200-linear foot system.
Ultimately, we recommend this guard for pine needles since our survey and analysis of its design indicate it does a good job of keeping needles out of your gutters. However, it may need to be cleaned more than other companies on this list. GGA is also a good choice for homeowners who don’t want to clean the pine needles out of their system—its selection of additional services means it can handle this cleaning for you.
Customer Reviews
- Professional technicians
- Polite representatives
- Effective products
- Inconsistent quality
Gutter Guards America has overall positive reviews online, save for its BBB page, with 2.5 out of 5 stars on BBB and only two reviews. Its Trustpilot page has a much better sample size, with nearly 600 reviews and a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Positive reviews indicate speedy installations, skilled technicians, and efficient products. Multiple customers specifically praised the guard's ability to block pine needles, including pine straw (dried pine needles). One customer noted that they were able to easily clean the system with a leaf blower to remove the majority of pine needles.
Negative reviews on Trustpilot mention poor-quality installations and debris buildup. For example, some customers complained that they still had pine needles along with other debris accumulating on their gutter guards and were unhappy at having to clean them. Even though this guard does a good job at keeping debris out, its design makes it more likely to catch and hold debris, meaning it will need to be cleaned more often. However, cleaning off this guard would still be much easier and quicker than dredging up gutter gunk with a gloved hand or scoop.
FAQ About Gutter Guards for Pine Needles
Why should you use gutter guards for pine needles?
You should use gutter guards for pine needles because pine needles can accumulate inside your gutter system and cause clogs. These clogs can then lead to overflowing gutters and, ultimately, water damage and other expensive problems.
Which gutter guard is most effective for preventing pine needle blockages?
The most effective gutter guard for preventing pine needle blockages is LeafFilter. In general, micro-mesh gutter guards are the most effective for blocking pine needles thanks to their tight mesh filters that block large and small debris.
How often should you clean pine needles out of your gutters?
If you don’t have gutter guards installed, you should clean pine needles out of your gutters at least twice a year. However, a quality gutter guard reduces the frequency of gutter cleaning to once a year or so. Many gutter guards effectively self-clean in rainfall, allowing pine needles to slide off to the ground.
Which gutter guards should you avoid when trying to stop pine needles?
You should avoid reverse-curve, brush, screen, and standard mesh guards when trying to stop pine needles. These guards are all ineffective at stopping pine needles because their filters aren’t fine enough to block the tiny needles.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at [email protected].