Dont Trust Leafilter or Gutter Guards

Tired of always having to clean leaves out of his gutters, a local man bought some leaf filters. But now, he says, that's created a whole new problem.

So, he called on Local 12 Troubleshooter Howard Ain for help.

No one wants to have to keep climbing a ladder to clean the leaves out of the gutter. James Allender says he was tired of doing that at his house in West Chester so he had the leaf filter system installed.

The company, Leaf Filter North, installed these filters in all the gutters around the house last September. But Allender says although they certainly keep leaves and debris out of his gutters they are also causing a problem.

"When it rains the water comes off the roof and hits the guards and just runs straight off of them over the side of the gutters all over the place."

The effects of that water can be seen on this section of gutter at the back of house it's covered with dirt. Allender says the problem was particularly bad in the winter when, as these pictures show, the overflowing water turned to icicles.

He says he reported the problem to Leaf Filter North and a representative came out to look at his disc of pictures.

"They sent out the supervisor who came out on June 29 and told me they've have a crew out here on the 5th, July 5 to fix it."

When he heard nothing he complained to the Better Business Bureau. The firm replied the run-over problem is caused by a fascia board that sits between the shingles and the gutter below.

Allender acknowledges that fascia board could very well be a problem but he says that's only in one small area of the house.

All the other areas of the house don't have that fascia board problem. But, he says, they all have water coming over the gutters.

"Should of figured the whole purpose was so the gutters would work better and now they don't work at all."

So Howard contacted the company's vice president for installation and explained what he had found. He's now sending over two managers to look at the gutters and see what can be done to correct this because, he says, leaf filter comes with a lifetime warranty. 

Provided By Local 12 Cincinnati

Gutter Leaf Guard — 3 Myths About Gutter Leaf Guards Debunked

Dont be fooled with Gutter Guards:

Example of Gutter Helmet

A gutter leaf guard is an excellent protection to have. This option is recommended to every homeowner irrespective of whether they live in an area with heavy rainfalls and a lot of vegetation or not. Gutter guards are useful, but it is common for marketers to go a bit over the top when they are marketing their products. That is why it is worth learning about the most common myths associated with these protection systems and discovering the truth behind them.

A gutter leaf guard offers complete protection from leaves and debris. This is a huge myth, even though the protection systems are evolving in terms of complexity and effectiveness. The reality is that most systems will allow some leaves inside the drain channels. If the holes of the mesh are not very small, tiny leaves can still go in. Similarly, with a brush guard, some leaves may remain trapped in between the bristle.

Many gutter leaf guards are ineffective when it comes to protecting your drain system from smaller debris such as pine needles and seeds. Foam protectors tend to trap these inside their pores. Mesh covers with very tiny holes will not allow such debris into the gutter and this is good, but these will often get piled up on top of the protection screen.

Rainwater overflow is impossible with a gutter leaf guard. This is certainly not true, despite the claims of marketers. Some protection systems have very thin slots that are a relatively large distance apart. These will offer good protection from leaves and debris, but they may cause problems during heavy rainfall due to their lower draining capacity. Similarly, foam models are known to retain between 10% and 15% of the water that flows into them. This amount can be quite high during heavy rainfalls.

Once a gutter leaf guard is installed, no cleaning will be required. This is a huge myth that is based mainly on the misconception about the level of effectiveness of protection systems. As explained earlier, some smaller leaves and debris will get inside the drain channel. In some cases, depending on the system, they will remain on top of the cover or get trapped inside. In all of these cases, cleaning will be required. Still, protected gutters will need only basic cleaning often less frequently than their unprotected counterparts.

Now you know the truth about gutter leaf guard protection. You can readily focus on finding a system that will work well for your house.

Leafguard Gutters VS Leafilter

You know there allot of bad reviews on Leafguard. Being a customer of Leafguard for seven years in the greater Puget Sound area I have had no problem with them.

A friend of mine has leaf filter for about three years, She has had her husband clean the gutters at least once a year because the filter although it surgical mesh get pollen caught in it. There for he has to go over it with a wired brush.

Least if I had to clean my gutters out all i would have to do is call up Leafguard and they would come and clean them out for free.   It saves me the time and effort.

So my over all experience in Leafguard Gutters have been a pleasant one.

In fact here the number of a local dealer
Mike Heckerman
425-737-3599

Leaf Guard In Kent, Washington

Wouldn't you like to say goodbye, forever, to the dangerous, unpleasant job of climbing ladders to clean out your gutters, or the expense of paying someone else to do it?

Gutters are meant to capture the rainwater from your roof and carry it safely into a downspout – away from your soffit, fascia and foundation, where it can cause damage. But ordinary gutters also capture leaves, twigs and other organic debris that can cause them to clog during rainstorms. LeafGuard’s patented design allows rainwater to travel down and around its curved hood and into the gutter, while deflecting leaves and debris.
LeafGuard Brand Gutters are guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or the installing dealer will clean your gutters for free.

LeafGuard Gutters are custom fit, durable, and made in a wide variety of colors. Their attractive design blends in perfectly with every style home.

With LeafGuard clog free gutters, you can forget about water damage, surface erosion, and climbing ladders. That’s why we say: With LeafGuard Brand Gutters - Get It and Forget It

Leaf Filter gutter screens do clog

Leaf Filter Complaint by WeDontTanWeRust

You were reading a complaint about Leaf Filter.

I have alot of fir trees in my backyard. Leaf filter guarantees that their gutters dont clog and that only water gets through. That may be true but over time the smaller debris clogs the screens that covers the gutter.

Then, when theres a heavy rain, alot of the water starts dripping off of the front of the gutter. I have to drag the pressure washer up on the roof to clean the gutter screens every 2 years. Maybe I can get the service rep over to pressure wash my gutters for me because I'm sick of doing it.

The Only One-Piece Covered Gutter System

If you’re fed up with worrying about gutter clogs or climbing ladders to clean them out, you need to know about LeafGuard gutters. LeafGuard Brand by Englert is the only patented, one-piece, seamless gutter system, that is guaranteed not to clog.

Don’t be fooled by imitators that call themselves LeafGuard. LeafGuard Brand by Englert is the original and only one-piece gutter system, with a built-in hood that covers the gutter bottom and deflects leaves and other debris. The hood is not an add-on, but an integral part of the gutter itself. LeafGuard keeps rainwater running freely and safely away from your home – each and every time it rains.

Find out for yourself why LeafGuard Brand Gutters, are the lifetime gutter solution.