mesh guards can actually trap more debris if you’ve got pine needles
I hear you on the mesh guards, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with the fine-mesh ones. Yeah, pine needles still pile up, but at least they don’t end up clogging the downspouts. I’d rather brush off the top than fish out a wet clump from the elbow. Wet/dry vac is genius though—wish I’d thought of that before I spent a Saturday up to my elbows in gutter gunk...
I’d rather brush off the top than fish out a wet clump from the elbow.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite issue with fine-mesh guards. On a couple of my properties with heavy pine coverage, those things just turned into a mat for needles and pollen. Sure, the downspouts didn’t clog as much, but water started spilling over the sides during heavy rain because the mesh was basically carpeted. Ended up having to clear them off more often than if I’d just left the gutters open.
Wet/dry vac is a lifesaver though—totally agree there. I started using one after getting tired of dragging out ladders every other month. Still, for me, nothing beats just scheduling a solid clean twice a year and skipping the guards altogether. Less hassle in the long run, at least with all these trees around.
I hear you about the mesh guards turning into a pine needle blanket—had that happen at my last place, and it was a pain. But for me, leaving the gutters open just meant more birds nesting and way more gunk to scoop out, especially after storms. Have you tried those foam inserts? I was skeptical, but they actually seemed to help with the overflow issue, at least for a season or two. Not perfect, but less mess than with nothing at all. Maybe it just depends on the kind of trees you’ve got dropping stuff...
Yeah, those foam inserts are kind of a mixed bag, right? I tried them at my uncle’s place—helped with the big leaves, but after a couple seasons they started to break down and got all gunky. Still, way less hassle than scooping out bird nests and soggy clumps every few weeks. I guess nothing’s totally maintenance-free, but it’s cool you found something that works for your setup. The type of trees around definitely makes a difference... pine needles are just relentless.
Tell me about it—pine needles are like the glitter of the yard world... get everywhere and never really go away. I tried those foam inserts too, and honestly, I felt like they just traded one headache for another. Sure, less scooping, but once they start to fall apart, it's a whole new mess. I’ve ended up just sticking to the twice-a-year ladder routine—usually after the bulk of the leaves drop and again in spring. Not fun, but at least I know what I’m dealing with.
