Warm, inviting, fragrant pine trees are beautiful. Homeowners seem to love these big trees. Yet, it’s not always pretty with these trees. Pine needles can become a hassle to homeowners when left unchecked. Leaves on their own adds hours of yardwork, pine needles’ irregular shape only make it worse. If left to their own devices, these needles can cause damage.
They are also great for clogging gutters. These ultra-thin leaves collect in your gutter system and can dam up the entire thing. The backup of water can cause pooling, roof damage, and random icy patches in the winter months.
But what steps should you take to prevent these problems? Shine would like to offer you this handy guide to help you protect your home and keep your gutters pine-needle-free.
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Keeping Needles Out of your Gutters.
There are a few different ways to keep your gutter clear of pine needles, and we will go in-depth into each of these in a minute. Keep in mind that there are pros and cons to each of these methods. We recommend reading through it all first and then making the best decision for your home and situation.
You can install a mesh cover that goes over your gutter. While that seems like a good idea, it doesn’t always work. It will block leaves and other large debris from getting into your gutters, but it won’t stop pine needles. Gutters with these covers are also harder to clean regularly.
If you decide to install mesh like this, be sure it’s micro mesh and not the curved mesh. No matter what method you choose, it would also help to trim back any pine tree branches that overhang your roof.
Three Methods to Keep Pine Needles Out of Gutters
Whether in the yard or clogging the gutter, pine needles can be a disaster. They can cause spillage and actually break gutters due to these clogs. Don’t let your gutters fall apart. Here are the best ways you can be proactive in keeping your gutters pine-needle-free.
Install Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
Not just any mesh covering will do when it comes to pine needles. Reverse-curve gutter guards aren’t necessarily a bad option, but they won’t stop the ultra-thin needles. So if you are going to invest, be sure to get the micro-mesh gutter guard. This ultra-tight mesh will help keep needles out that cause clogs.
Micro-mesh gutter guards only allow water to flow through. Mesh gutter guards are made this way to prevent everything such as leaves, dirt, debris, or those pesky pine needles. Micro-mesh isn’t totally worry-free, though.
You will still have to find a way to clean your gutters from time to time. This might mean removing all of the collective debris. Overall, this is a good option for keeping pine needles out.
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Make Gutter Cleaning Easy
Climbing a ladder to clean your gutters isn’t just annoying. It can be downright dangerous. Hauling up a hose and any other supplies can easily topple the ladder. There’s an easy solution, one that might not even require a ladder for most single-story gutters.
A hose-attached gutter cleaning wand. This is a pressurized attachment that connects directly to your hose and uses water to spray out pine needles. It works similar to a pressure washer, but it’s low enough not to damage your gutters.
These hose attachments are a great alternative to investing in a complete guard installation while keeping your gutters clog-free. Pine needles fall year-round, so be sure to check them a few times per year.
Pro Tip: Just call in the professionals. They can set up a quick and reliable cleaning. Shine is professionally cleaning gutters across the Austin and Dallas areas. Give Shine a call today for a free estimate.
Trim Overhanging Pine Branches
Often overlooked, sometimes the easiest method is a reliable method. The best way to not have pine needles in your gutters is not to have pine needles. Don’t worry. We aren’t saying to remove the beautiful trees. By just trimming up the low or overhanging branches, you can prevent a lot of unwanted needles from falling into your gutter.
Be sure not to overlook any that are over the roof itself. Low hanging branches can cause damage to your roof by scraping against it or falling. That damage can be much worse than just a clogged gutter.
Do You Need to Remove Pine Needles from Gutters?
Yes. It is critical to remove these and any other debris from your gutters to prevent clogs. Left uncleaned gutters will back up and can cause some severe problems.
- Overflow of backed-up water.
- Roof leaks.
- Gutters that pull away from the house.
- Damage to walls, roof, and other parts of your home.
- Overflow into unwanted areas like basements.
Checking and cleaning your gutters regularly can help prevent these problems. Even if you decide to install gutter mesh, you should still be proactive in checking your gutters from time to time to ensure that they are clear. In cases where the mesh is damaged, pine needles and other debris can get in and cause clogs.
Removing Pine Needles from Gutters
Removing the needles is where the job can become tedious. Before installing guards or cleaning your gutters, it helps to remove any current pine needles. This job requires you to get up on a ladder and physically remove the needles by hand.
We recommend that after you clean out your gutters to consider trimming your pine trees or installing a guard to keep the needles out. Taking precautions to ensure that your gutters are clog-free and clear of needles can extend the life of your gutters and save you money down the road.
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Conclusion
Pine needles are beautiful but can be a hazard to your home. By keeping your gutters clear of clogs from these pesky needles, you can prevent damage to your house.
For professional cleaning, Shine now serves the Dallas and Austin area. Clean your gutters the easy way, and call Shine today for a free estimate.
