It can be frustrating for some people during pollen season, especially those with allergies. However, aside from having allergy issues with pollen, you may also experience home maintenance problems. This is particularly true for homeowners with foam gutter guards. Since pollen is tiny and sticky, it can affect the performance of your gutter guards.
What Are Foam Gutter Guards?
Other types of gutter guards sit on top of the gutter opening. Foam gutter guards, on the other hand, sit inside them. These gutter guards are made of flexible lengths of coarse polyether foam that allow water to pass through easily, but catch leaves, seeds, dirt and other debris. They are one of the easiest to install gutter guards, making them a popular choice among homeowners.
However, most people who live in areas with plenty of sand, dust and dirt blowing around may not have foam gutter guards as their first choice. Debris may get caught inside the foam pieces and mix with water, which can give you a hard time cleaning.
What Happens to Gutter Guards During Pollen Season?
The sticky nature of pollen makes it difficult to manage your gutters. When it comes to foam gutter guards, the water trickles through very small holes and into the gutter. During pollen season, however, those holes can become clogged. This prevents water from getting through into the gutters and causing water to likely spill down your home’s walls. Not only will you have to replace your gutter guard, but you may also have to deal with landscaping and siding issues.
If you receive a lot of spring pollen in your area, be sure to add a gutter protection system that does not clog during the pollen season. For instance, you may consider a nose-forward, surface tension design. It doesn’t have tiny pores that may get clogged with pollen. Instead, water moves smoothly via surface tension and into a 3/8 inch gap, which is small enough to avoid debris accumulation.
At Gutter Helmet® of Cookeville, we install top-quality gutter helmet systems that can do just that. To learn more about our exceptional gutter protection system, give us a call at (866) 985-9982, or fill out our online contact form to set an appointment. We proudly serve homeowners in Cookeville, TN.
