Living in Colorado is truly magical. We have terrains like no other state in the nation and the number of activities we’re able to do as a result of the Rocky Mountains, lakes, and unique cities like Denver and Colorado Springs are endless.
While we’re lucky to call Colorado home, residents do experience some challenges that other homeowners across the nation don’t. Along with our extreme winters and heavy snow, pine needles can cause all sorts of issues for homeowners. Ponderosa and lodgepole pines are found all across the state, so the likelihood that you have one on your property is pretty high.
If you do have pines on your property, then you know their needles fall on everything. You can find fallen pine needles on and in just about everything: cars, air conditioning units, pools, and of course gutter systems. Not only are they a nuisance to deal with, but pine needles can actually harm your gutter system. Continue reading as we discuss the dangers of pine needles and your gutter system and how to keep pine needles out of your gutters.
Why are pine needles a threat to my gutter system?
Pine trees will start to shed their needles in September and October in Colorado, so odds are you’ve already seen them starting to fall and collect on most surfaces. Whether they’re damp or dry, pine needles can be a slip hazard and are often the cause for people to fall. They can also make roads slick which can be a danger for our already dangerous mountain roads.
Along with being slick, pine needles create issues for homeowners and their gutter systems. If your home has traditional half-round gutters or even gutter covers and filters/screens, it is not fully protected from the damage that can occur from pine needles.
For one, pine needles will clog half-round gutters. Because they have a coating on the needles, it takes a while for the entire needle to break down and decompose. When they inevitably fall into half-round gutter systems (and trust us, they are one of the top types of debris found in gutters here in Colorado) they remain for quite some time. When they’re left to accumulate in a gutter system they can build up quickly, resulting in clogs. They don’t move easily through a gutter system, so they impede water flow which results in overflowing gutters.
Pine needles can also cause issues for gutter screens and filters. While they’re supposed to keep debris out, the small openings on gutter filters can act as a “shelf” for debris, meaning larger debris will sit on top of the filter. Pine needles can fall vertically and may become stuck in the small openings of gutter filters. When pine needles and other debris and seeds get trapped in these small openings, water isn’t able to enter the gutters, resulting in an overflow and possibly sagging gutters.
How can I keep pine needles out of my gutter system?
If you have a half-round gutter system then you’ll want to keep up with regular cleaning to remove as many pine needles as possible. You should be cleaning your gutters at least twice a year, however, it’s best to clean them more often if your property is surrounded by pine trees. Follow our guide on how to clean your gutter system to clear as much debris as possible.
Along with cleaning your gutter system regularly, you should have pine trees that are close to your home’s roof pruned often to avoid pine needles falling on your roof and ultimately into your gutter system. Cleaning your gutter system and pruning pine trees can help keep the number of pine needles out of your gutter system, however, they’re temporary solutions that need to be performed often.
The most effective way to keep pine needles out of your gutter system is to install the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. Half-round gutters and gutter screens and filters don’t offer the complete protection that K-Guard does when it comes to keeping all debris out of your gutter system.
So how does our gutter product keep pine needles out? All components of our seamless and complete system work together to keep debris and pests out. Our system has a curved hood that allows pine needles and other debris to slide off the gutter system, eliminating the chance for them to even enter the system. Only water adheres to our curved hood and enters the gutter system and pine needles are kept out of the gutters where they belong. You will never experience clogs and overflowing or sagging gutters again.
K-Guard is the premiere gutter company in Colorado, providing a leaf-free gutter solution for homeowners for many years. Not only is our gutter product able to handle a minimum of 23 inches of rain per hour, nothing beats its durability. Constructed of heavy-duty aluminum that will never corrode or rust, the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System is so effective that it’s backed by three lifetime warranties.
If you’re ready to keep pine needles out of your gutter system for good, schedule a free in-home estimate today. We proudly install the K-Guard Gutter System across the state of Colorado including, but not limited to, the following locations: Denver, Colorado Springs, Littleton, Centennial, Aurora, Boulder, and Fort Collins.
