Having worked as a sales rep for Leaf Filter myself, let me say that I feel your pain. You have to get up there and clean them off or wait for a strong wind which is not likely to remove all debris up there. You can of course opt to call them up and demand that they take care of it since you do have a lifetime guarantee. I quit Leaf Filter as a salesman because I eventually realized that the company grossly overprices their product and makes claims that, in the real world, are simply not true. Leaf Filter wants to charge customers $30 a foot for their gutter protection while you can actually get something equally as good if not better for less that $3 a foot!  Here's an example: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gutter-Guard-by-Gutterglove-4-ft-L-x-5-in-W-Stainless-Steel-Micro-Mesh-Gutter-Guard-10-Pack-THD40/300252780?

Many homeowners are looking for a miracle product that will free them from ever having to clean their gutters again.Some companies are actually claiming they have this miracle product! There are some good gutter cover designs; however, every gutter guard system we have tested (and we have tested a lot of them!) has pluses and minuses.

You may have seen a demonstration at a local home show or in the mall. They look great… the water rolls around the edge of the gutter cover and into the gutter; but do they work in the real world?To some degree yes, but none of them are perfect and none of them will prevent you from ever having to clean your gutters again!

There are over 70 gutter protection products in the U.S. and over 150 companies selling these systems. Every company says that they are the best and that you will never have to clean your gutters again…. if a representative from any gutter guard company in the world makes such a claim, RUN FAST!

There is no such thing as a maintenance free gutter guard!!!!

I REPEAT - There is no such thing as a maintenance free gutter guard!!!!

REGARDLESS of what the manufacturer claims; ALL Gutter Guards will require annual maintenance.

Most of the gutter guards do a fair job of preventing full sized leaves from entering your gutters. That is a simple task. However, many of the gutter cover products fail to stop tiny tree flower buds, seed pods and evergreen needles from entering or clogging the gutters.And none of them are maintenance free… every gutter guard system will require cleaning regardless of their claims!!!

Gutter Cleaning may be a cheaper and better solution…

Gutter guards are not cheap! Depending on the type of gutter guard they run anywhere from $8 to $20 per lineal foot installed. An average house may have 100 feet of gutter; some houses have even more. Most homes’ gutter systems can be cleaned by a professional in an hour or so… you can do the math!

Gutter cleaning, as you well know, is not just a fall activity. Many trees shed debris throughout the seasons.Over time, clogged gutters can do serious damage to a home.Usually, fascia, eaves, and foundation areas suffer first.Paint peels and insects invade.In some cases, rainwater can enter an exterior wall through eaves.Prolonged exposure to a clogged gutter system will also render rafter end and roof sheathing vulnerable to rot.Repairs become expensive.It is not uncommon for some homes to need cleaning four times a year. 

I REPEAT - There is no such thing as a maintenance free gutter guard!!!!

Hey Robert, 

Was the product sold to you as "maintenance free"? If so, request service. If not, the maintenance of cleaning off the tops is your responsibility I believe. I would suggest not ignoring it. A few problems can arise, especially if you are in a snowy climate.

I know many of the people responding here and they are all great companies. 

One thing I would add is that wire mesh covers are terrible. They actaully can cause damage to roofs. If they get any ice weight on them they can curl and lift the leading edge of the shinges. You want a cover that can be installed and attached to front and back of gutter or front of gutter and under shingles. 

Unfortunetly you need ot spend the money on a cover but you do get what you pay for. Email me or call anytime and I am happy to talk and answer any questions. 

www.utahgutter.com all info is on site

Can't say I've ever heard them doing it when they cool down, but when the sun hits them in the morning, it can happen. If they're mounted to an aluminum facia, that can also transfer noise when expanding/contracting

The is no one best gutter protection product.  There are tons of hoods and systems available and everybody claims to have "the best".  I would suggest that you research and make an educated decision.  GutterShutter is a the system that I use.  It is a custom seamless gutter application with a hood that is made in 10' sections and attaches directly to the fascia board on your home.  The big advantage of the hood (though being part of the system) being installed separately is that it allows for maintenance if and when needed.

I strongly recommend staying away from ANY product the has to go under or over any course of shingles on your home.  This is a seal that you do not want to break.

Great question. While cleaning the gutters every spring/fall is an option, and the cheapest, most folks want the gutter guards so that they don't ever have to do that chore again. Or maybe due to age or physical limitations, the person can't clean them. Is the cost really that cheap when you are doing this job once or twice a year? If your yard has lots of trees, you need to invest in gutter guards which in the long term,are the way to go. We offer 3 different lines of products to our customers depending on their budget and needs. The lowest cost option is a "drop in" style guard, which is basically plastic with larger holes and really the least effective of the three. The better option we offer for those still needing to keep within a budget is the Englert MicroGuard product. For those who want the best, we offer what we feel is the best on the market, and that is Evelyn's Leaf Solution. It comes in a variety of colors to match the existing roof or siding material, it has a stainless steel micro mesh to allow water to freely get through and exit, yet catch all debris including the smallest of debris. It is also a zip screw install system meaning you won't have to worry high winds or storms will blow them out or damage them. We also really like Leaf Solution's honesty with their warranty. No gutter lasts a "lifetime". They are aluminum. So they offer a generous 25 yrs on their product which as they say is a lifetime on a gutter product. They are not meant to last 50-100 yrs. just as no product out there is rated for. Don't fall for we are installing a product that will last a "lifetime". No, we do not work for Leaf Solution or get anything by promoting them. We want to only offer our customers the best. As another option, Rhino Guard is a great product as well. Hope this helps with your gutter improvement!

We actually have given up recommending our customers install gutter covers in our service area and regularly remove them. Instead, we offer a cleaning service that keeps the downspouts clear, and works totally every time. The gutter covers work, except when they don't. Heavy rains defeat the solid gutter covers (which is when you really want your gutters and downspouts to take in the water), and the screens  allow enough smaller debris through that they still clog in our area and then are in our way for cleaning. Your location and tree cover will dictate whether or not such a cover makes sense for you. They wouldn't stay in business if they didn't work for some people, but in our area they seem to make more problems than solutions.

We had a very good luck with Mastic Leaf Relief product, that said we did run into some applications where it didn't work as well as expected.

Many of my roofing and siding sub-contractors, including myself, use Leaf Relief and have had good luck with it.

None of them work.  they either let small debris filter in or in a hard rain the water just runs over the gutter and not into the gutter

A Leading Consumer Magazine Makes Gutter Topper A Recommended Gutter Guard Choice.

We have looked at and studied every type of gutter guards on the market. We have been pitched all of them and looked at every one on the market. 

What we have found for a succesful gutter cover. 

1. It needs to  attach to the gutter and under the shingles or to roof edge. (this is critical to give the gutter strength. If done correctly the gutters will be several times stronger) this will help with ice wieght and over all longer lasting gutter system.

2. Must be attached at a slight angle away from the roof. if a cover is level or below the gutter line. Debri will sit on the cover and potentially get inside. You want the cover to be able to shed debri not allow debri to sit on it.

3. Needs to handle enough water, wind, and ice weight.

4. Hooded systems work best. This allows water to go in and keep derbi out. A screen system is not near as good. There are a few good micro screens on the market. They keep derbi out. Only problem is like and filter they need to be cleaned. So every few years you will need to get up a clean them.

5. Cannot attach itself to brackets. This is a weakness and will cause failers. Especially in high wind areas. 

6. Installed by someone trained. There are decent covers out there but if they are not installed propertly they will not work.

7. no cover on the market that is 100%. You can get small amounts of debri in the gutter. However if a gutter is installed properly they will drain and small bits of dirt etc will wash out. They do not without covers because the leaves cause dams and do not allow it to drain. With covers it keeps out the debri causes dams. 

All that said the cover we have had the most succes with is Gutter Topper. We have installed thousands of feet of covers. We have had only 2 job fail. Both were due to improper installs. Once we discoverd what we were doing wrong havent had a problem since. (several years ago) We have had unbelievable success with gutter topper.