Regardless of the season, gutters require adequate protection from debris. Dead leaves, tree branches, and other things may pile up on your roof and clog the gutter, forcing water to back up, seep through the shingles, and penetrate the underlying spaces. Rosalind Jackson’s article for HowStuffWorks.com explains how a gutter guard functions to prevent large debris from blocking gutters. Among other things, a gutter protection system helps reduce the frequency of gutter cleanup.

You know that old couple down the street from you—they’re really too old to climb up on a ladder to do home maintenance activities. It never fails, though—they take turns every season cleaning their gutters of leaves, twigs and other seasonal debris. You’ve vowed that the next time you see them haul out the ladder, you’re going to volunteer to clean their downspouts for them. But you’re also curious if it would benefit them to install a gutter guard. You’ve always wondered if they actually worked.

A gutter guard is a metal or plastic screen that stops objects from falling into the gutter without impeding the water runoff. Such a device is ideally installed on homes surrounded with overhanging tree branches that drop and slide across the roof toward gutters. With a gutter protection system in place, the roof can more efficiently convey water and snow to the ground. Jackson also offers this piece of advice:

It’s a good idea to take a look at your gutters, especially in the autumn when leaves are falling. You’ll also want to make sure in the winter that snow and ice don’t clog your gutters. Spring and summer can pose their own problems, depending on the foliage surrounding your house.

Meanwhile, most homeowners are right to worry about ice dams that prevent water from draining to the ground and instead force it to flow through cracks on the roof covering and down to the attic space. Prompt snow removal can help prevent the formation of ice dams, but in case you have a steeply pitched roof, you may want to call in a professional roofer to handle this task. Meanwhile, you can turn to a trusted Fairfax roof repair expert in the event that your gutter or gutter protection system already requires a replacement.

Fixing a gutter guard may involve leaning a ladder on an unsecure roof edge. For your own safety and for best results, hire an expert in gutter and roof repair in Fairfax, VA, such as Northern Virginia Roofing & Exteriors. This way you’ll have a better chance of having a lasting roof gutter that will save you from constant cleaning and fixing.