They work to redirect rainwater flowing off your roof to your rainspout, so it doesn’t pool and damage your property.

These systems are especially helpful in fall, when fallen leaves are most likely to accumulate on roofs and cause blockages.

To find out how a gutter guard can help improve your property this fall – and year round – consider the following 5 benefits.

Reduce the risk of flooding

When gutters overflow, water is dumped around the perimeter of your home only to collect around the foundation. A foundation exposed to water can lead to many problems, as water can leak or seep through to the basement. The heavier the excess weight of a clogged gutter, the more likely it is to be pulled away from the home, which can result in a steady stream of water flow around the foundation or one big dump after a rainfall.

Aside from flooding in your basement, misdirected water can also lead to unsightly discolouration of siding, and concrete or wood below. Over time, this may lead to woodrot, mold and mildew. A gutter guard can protect your siding and deck.

Easier gutter maintenance

Gutters typically require two cleanings per year, one in the spring and one in fall. This can be an expensive and risky process, especially for older homeowners. With gutter guards are installed, cleanings are needed less frequently and are easier to accomplish – simply removing debris from the surface of the guard is all that is needed to stay clog-free.

A protected better protected garden

Water falling into your garden and yard can destroy delicate flowers, plants, and grass, and cause soil erosion from around the perimeter of your home. In fall, raking leaves from a property can be demanding for some. Pairing this with the messy clean-up of soil erosion makes fall home maintenance more time consuming.

A nest-free gutter

Clogged gutters become filled with materials for birds and rodents to build nests with. If you want to keep pests from damaging your garden in summer, a gutter guard can prevent them from making themselves at home around your property in the first place.

Clogged gutters can also become a breeding ground for insects like mosquitos, bees and termites which pose a health hazard to your family and your home’s structural integrity.

Less freezing in winter

Freezing temperatures combined with warm temperatures from your attic will bring about a cycle of freezing, melting, and refreezing on your roof. As a result, ice dams and icicles form. When a ridge of ice forms at the edge of a roof melting snow is prevented from draining off and the water that backs up behind the ridge can leak into the home. Gutter guards may not prevent damming or icicles from forming, but they help prevent their build-up off the sides of your house.

Consider a gutter guard as you begin weatherproofing your home for the cold season. You may find out that it plays a valuable role in maintaining your property year-round.