Funny thing, I actually had a different experience with the foam inserts at one of my older duplexes. They did get a bit grimy after a season, but they kept the big stuff—like twigs and those ridiculous helicopter seeds—out of the downspouts, which was half my battle. Still had to hose them off every spring, but it beat hauling out a whole bucket of sludge. Not saying they’re perfect, but for folks who can’t get up on a ladder as often, they might buy you some time. Weirdest thing I’ve found? A plastic dinosaur wedged in there... no idea how that got up on a second-story roof.
I get the appeal, but I’m still not totally sold on those inserts—mine got so packed with wet leaves one fall that water just spilled over the gutter. Maybe it’s different in places without a ton of maples? Ever tried those metal mesh guards instead?
- Totally get what you mean about the inserts. Had the same issue last year—
“mine got so packed with wet leaves one fall that water just spilled over the gutter.”
- I’m in a neighborhood full of maples too. Those things clog up everything, fast.
- Tried the metal mesh guards. They’re better, but not perfect. Still have to brush off the top every couple weeks in peak season or stuff piles up.
- Honestly, nothing’s maintenance-free if you’ve got a ton of trees. At least the mesh is easier to clear than digging soggy leaves out of the gutter itself.
- If you’re on a budget, mesh is cheaper than those fancy covers, but you’ll still be up on a ladder sometimes... just less often.
I’m in the same boat with all the maples around here—seems like no matter what you put up there, you're still clearing something off every fall. I tried those foam inserts a few years back and honestly, they just turned into a soggy mess. The mesh guards have been a little better, but like you said, they’re not exactly set-and-forget. At least it’s less gross than scooping out wet sludge by hand.
One thing I noticed is that the finer mesh keeps out more debris, but it also seems to slow down drainage during heavy rain. I’ve had water just sheet right over the edge a couple times when the mesh clogged up with seeds and twigs. Have you noticed any issues with overflow on yours, or is it mostly just the leaf buildup? I’m curious if anyone’s found a guard that actually strikes a good balance between keeping stuff out and letting water in—especially for neighborhoods with tons of mature trees.
The mesh guards have been a little better, but like you said, they’re not exactly set-and-forget.
Yeah, I hear you on that. I’ve got those micro-mesh covers and honestly, they’re a double-edged sword. They keep out the big stuff, but when the helicopters start dropping, it’s like a maple seed slip-n-slide up there. Had a couple storms where water just poured right over the edge because the mesh was basically a mat of wet seeds. I’ve tried brushing them off with a telescoping pole, but it’s still a chore. At this point, I’m convinced the only real “set-and-forget” solution is to move somewhere with fewer trees... but then what would I complain about every fall?
