Most of the time you can clean a guard without taking it off. The method depends on the design, and a few situations do call for lifting sections out. Here is the method for each guard type and the signs that removal is needed.
In This Article
Gear and setup
A few simple tools cover almost every guard:
- A telescoping pole with a soft nylon brush, never a wire one
- A garden hose with a nozzle set to a gentle spray
- A leaf blower, electric or battery, for dry debris
- A bucket, gloves, eye protection and a dust mask, since old debris throws up dust and mould spores
- A ladder with a standoff, for the jobs a pole cannot reach
Pole tools keep you lower and keep your feet on the ground, which is safer than reaching. Work in dry weather above freezing, keep three points of contact on any ladder and keep the ladder and tools at least 3 metres from overhead lines. A pressure washer has no place here: it can bend mesh, force debris under the guard and tear foam.
Method by guard type
| Guard type | Method | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-mesh | Brush gently in the direction the water runs, from the roof side toward the front lip, then rinse at low pressure | Wire brushes, hard pressure, pressure washers |
| Reverse-curve hood | Blow or rinse across the top, and flush inside if a section hinges or lifts | Poking tools into the slot |
| Perforated or screen | Sweep with a stiff plastic brush, then rinse. Nudge stuck needles out with a soft tool | Forcing debris down through the holes |
| Brush insert | Lift out a section, shake it out and rinse it | Leaving seeds and grit deep in the bristles |
| Foam insert | Lift out, rinse and squeeze, or replace if it is crumbling | Pressure washing |
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A cleaning rhythm for the Ontario year
- Late spring: after maple seed pods and oak catkins have dropped.
- Mid-November: once the leaf drop is largely over, and before the first hard freeze.
- Early fall, under conifers: a quick brush-down as older needles begin to drop.
- After big storms: wind can deliver a season's worth of debris in one afternoon.
Choose a mild, dry day. Frozen debris does not brush off, and frost on a ladder turns a chore into a fall risk. Work from the roof edge toward the front lip so the debris falls the way it would naturally.
Check your work, and avoid the usual slips
Finish with a two-minute test. Run the hose along the surface: water should pass through or over the guard without skipping the front edge. Then check each downspout for a strong, steady flow at the bottom. If either test fails, the problem sits below the surface, and the next section applies.
Avoid these common slips:
- Brushing against the flow, which drives debris into the openings.
- Standing on, or leaning a ladder against, the guard or the trough.
- Cleaning the surface and forgetting the outlets, where grit that slipped through collects.
- Scratching mesh or its coating with metal scrapers.
When you have to lift the guard
Surface cleaning has limits. Take a closer look under the guard if:
- water still backs up after the surface is clear
- a downspout runs weakly, which suggests grit packed in the trough or outlet
- you can see packed grit, standing water, mould or sprouted plants through the mesh or slot
- a joint leaks or a run sags, since repairs need access to the trough itself
- brush or foam inserts are packed solid
Before you lift anything, read the maker's instructions and check the warranty. Photograph the sections and keep every fastener. Lift gently in the direction the pieces overlap, and stop if a section is fastened under the shingles. Then ask the installer, rather than prying.
Removal is also your chance to inspect. Look at the hangers, the joints and the fascia behind the trough while the guard is out of the way, and fix small problems before you put it back.
Where a crew earns its keep
Second-storey eaves, steep roofs and anything you cannot reach from a pole are the jobs to hand over. Read gutter cleaning safety for two-storey homes before you decide, and browse tools for DIY gutter cleaning if you plan to do it yourself.
D&D Home Services offers gutter cleaning and gutter guard installation across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Ask what a cleaning visit includes for your particular guard, and get the answer in a written quote.
Key Takeaways
- Use a soft brush on a pole, a blower and a gentle hose, and never a pressure washer, which can bend mesh and tear foam.
- Brush micro-mesh in the direction the water runs, flush hoods, sweep screens, and lift and shake brush or foam inserts.
- Clean in late spring, mid-November and after big storms, on a mild, dry day.
- Lift the guard when water still backs up, a downspout is weak, the trough shows packed grit or plants, or a repair needs access.
Sources & References
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