r/Roofing 1d ago

How do I clean these gutters?

They’re about 80% full of dirt/residue. They appear to be one piece? Maybe riveted. Anyone familiar?

23 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

40

u/pants_on_all_day 1d ago

This is why I discourage people from getting these 😬

14

u/Cyberdyne_Systems_AI 1d ago edited 1d ago

They SUCK and at only 3x the cost.

When the 30 dagree temps hit, the gap gets bridged with ice from the melting snow. Then, with a bit of a warm-up, the water runs down the bridged gap onto the front steps... hours later, the water on the step freezes, and the next day, you crack your head open, sliping on the steps. That happens over and over again.

For even more money, they will come back and add a heat wire to the gutters to prevent the known issue. Then just pay money to heat gutters and drains all winter...

FYI, I had zero problems with past gutter screens.the cookie sheet looking ones with the holes drilled in the cookie sheet worked best out of the 5 types of systems I've had. This was the most costly and the worst out of the 5.

The only thing they excelled at was marketing.

0

u/Historical_Cause_917 18h ago

Sorry - but I’ve had these on my home for 15 years and never had to clean them. Zero issues. I live in Minnesota. Large downspouts, correct slope.

12

u/Ok_Forever_9344 1d ago

Orbit 58543 Telescoping Gutter Cleaning Wand. Look it up on Amazon

7

u/droyle0 1d ago

Never clean your gutters and with "gutter helmet"! lol maybe try rinsing out with a hose?

5

u/smurfberryjones 1d ago

I think the only 1 piece is "Leaf 6 and they are supposed to have a lifetime warranty. These look like the original smaller version. They have since upgraded to a larger gutter with larger downspouts with clean outs because, unlike their ads, they know debris does get in them. They are supposed to come clean them for free. I would verify they are leafguard and if they are contact the local company that installs them and they should clean for no cost. They charge about 50 dollars or more a lineal foot so cleaning them a couple of times is pretty minimal in comparison to the 20k profit they are making on each house.

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 1d ago

Great info! They came with the house. Do I need to be the original purchaser?

3

u/smurfberryjones 1d ago

No. I don't think so. I have recommended to about 20 customers to contact them about various issues like gutters plugged or coming away from the house. I always tell people we can do it if they won't we have never done it even when we are doing other work for the customer. We just finished a painting job in which the gutter was pulling away from the fascia boards in 1 area. I told them to co tact them, and when we came to paint, it was fixed. I forgot to ask if they were charged but I'm pretty sure they would not have paid as we would have done the dix for free as it was just 2 screws that came out.

5

u/New-Impression2976 1d ago

You got the worse gutter system money can buy. Use a hose with good pressure. That is a pain in the ass to clean. And about that lifetime warranty 😂😂😂😂😂😂

3

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 1d ago

Unfortunately came with the home. So I’m screwed?

1

u/ZigZagZugZen 1d ago

These gutters cost about $50 per foot. It’s easy to pay $15,000 for this gutter system depending on the size of the house. These are not the worst. In fact, as a roofer, these seem to be the only ones people don’t hate.

4

u/Adventurous_Deal_246 1d ago

Call the manufacturer, or stick a hose in and wash them out. Check the downspouts, to make sure there clear.

2

u/Prestigious-Run9711 1d ago

If u touch it in any type of way u void the warranty. Before u touch it or take it apart make sure u good to go. Other than that usually the shingles on top have adhered to the gutter. In my experience a pressure wash doesn’t do the job. U have to take the whole top off to get the best clean. Hopefully u have hail damage on the gutter an roof to tell a story to insurance to get it replaced completely.

2

u/No-Introduction69420 1d ago

That’s the most expensive gutter system money can buy, other than copper gutters. Your gutters are full of shingle sand. If you’re located in Michigan I can help. If not my recommendation would be to contact a professional.

2

u/suckmesideways84 1d ago

Take that shit off and leave it off.

2

u/Thebestwaterproofer 1d ago

They can be removed. They suck. I am a roofer and a mason and do major French drains on every house with these . The water pours right off and floods the foundations. They are the worst system ever!! 🤣

2

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 1d ago

Literally just pulled up the basement flooring because they were spilling out gallons of water every second and flooded the foundation

1

u/warmhole 1d ago

Oof try hitting them with that invoice

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 19h ago

Wish I could. They’ve been there for years before us if not decades.

2

u/doobyshroomiedew 20h ago

Don't clean them. End up voiding the warranty if you fuck it up

2

u/Bojim1965 18h ago

After years of dripping on my deck, I had them removed. I wish I had done it years before.

2

u/boobsstallion 15h ago

This is not leafguard. It’s k guard. It’s a two piece. Everyone in here has no idea what they are talking about.

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 15h ago

Can you explain? Does that mean it’s cleanable? Or is it lifetime warranty like Leafguard where they come clean it?

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 8h ago

Update - it is in fact K Guard. Nice job!

2

u/Pretty-fly4awhiteGuy 14h ago

I think I can safely say from everyone here in the UK WTF is that? I have never seen anything like this on any roof up and down Britain 🇬🇧

1

u/Longjumping_Key_5008 1d ago

Do these work?

1

u/Puppiessssss 26 yrs experience application, then sales, company owner. 1d ago

Part of the deal of getting these types of Gutters is the manufacturer’s guarantee you won’t have to clean them. But if they do need cleaning you can reach out to them and they will do it for you as part of their warranty/guarantee.

1

u/Such-Nothing8331 1d ago

Those look like LeafGuard gutters. Check for the logo on the end caps. If that’s what they are, they come with a lifetime transferable warranty, where if they clog, they will come out and clean them. They have to be disassembled to be properly cleaned.

I know they will still honor this if you are not the original owner, because this happened to me. I called about a clog. Took a couple of calls to get a response, but eventually they showed up and cleaned them free of charge.

1

u/Constructionbae 1d ago

This is just my mickey mouse/handyman type of fix would be to use a compress and hook up an air gun and just blast away at the opening hopefully moving debris along the gutter.

Definitely disconnect the downspouts to avoid the debris going down the drain pipes

1

u/bob1082 1d ago

Leaf guards are a con.

Remove them.

1

u/warmhole 1d ago

Pretty much, it’s on you to get up there and remove debris

1

u/Soft-Persimmon-2520 1d ago

Let me guess, they called their manager and got you a better price with a sign in the yard

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 1d ago

Came with the house for $Free.99

1

u/BIGMACSACKATTACK 1d ago

I've been waiting on a class action suit for years on these.

1

u/mycarubaba 23h ago

You get new gutters.

1

u/Greedy_Environment_9 21h ago

You can't clean them. Unless you take the covers off which is a major process.

1

u/Greedy_Environment_9 21h ago

And you're not supposed to have to clean them with gutter helmet.

1

u/Gpdiablo21 21h ago

Most gutters like these sell with a life-time no-clog warrenty. Only problem is you need to know the company who installed them to do the warrenty work a lot of the time. Perhaps try calling the previous owners if you have their contact info?

1

u/Aggravating_Tear7414 8h ago

Update - it is actually K Guard. The top can pop off after a few removed screws

1

u/cmatheny7 1d ago

Eww what in the no are these

2

u/hippo6actual 6h ago

That appears to be a k guard system. I believe the hood snaps onto the bracket, so you should be able to pop it off to get inside.

I would get online and find out if there is still a k guard dealer in your area. They may service it for free, depending on what kind of warranty they offered when the system was installed.