Fall Cleanup Expert Q&A

Make fall cleanup less of a hassle with the expert advice from Consumer Reports’ yard guru, Peter Sawchuk (shown testing a Husqvarna power blower).

Peter will answer your questions and help you make quicker work of dealing with leaves, getting your lawn ready for winter, and much more.

Go to the forum to get started and ask your questions. (Note: The forum is open to all visitors.)

For more information on fall cleanup, read our end-of-season guide. And check out our latest report on power blowers to get the right model for your property.

Comments

[Crispin Pierce]

Can you please outline fall cleanup approaches that are environmentally friendly (e.g., composting, raking rather than blowing leaves, rain gardens, etc.)?

[S. Koch]

I am in a new house this fall. The house is surrounded by a forest of 40 foot high trees. This is great in the summer for shade and quietness, but the trees are potentially a energy drain ( on my body!) as the leaves fall -- in the gutters and on the property-- this autumn season.

The Northeast has had a very dry summer, many of leaves are already coming down and I've cleaned out the gutter already three times.

What might you suggest to mimize my fall cleanup time?

[debbiewf]

I need gutter protection. I've been trying to figure out gutter helmut products. I need to keep my gutter from clogging and they clog all the time. We live in the woods. We have some big oak trees that really mess us up in spring with their little seed strings. Please help me find what I need. I can't keep going up the ladder 50-60 times a year. I'm getting older.

[Brian]

Was wondering when the info on gutter guards will be available via the website. Peter mentioned in the 2007 Fall Clean-Up Q&A that gutter guards were in the process of being tested/evaluated. Could someone let me know when the info will be available? Thanks!

[michael graham]

I, too, was wondering when results from the 2007 testing would be out on gutter guards. We need to do something soon with ours and we're just waiting for some independent reviews on them.

[Jacquie]

I too need some guide on selecting gutter protection. My house is surrounded by oak and hemlock and my gutters are overflowing. After knee surgery I can no longer climb a ladder so I need to put up gutter covers of some sort. Thank you.

[Kris Paul]

I too have leaf problems and need some assistance on selecting a gutter guard system. Is this info available - I don't find it on the site?

[Ward G.]

Gutter protection , O k , I wanted the same protection but not at
thousands of dollars so some sales person can get a high commison.
I went to Lowes and found a plastic gutter screen. It's flimsy and is cheap $1.80 per 3 feet. So being cheap and a do it your self type of guy
I purchased 80 ft. $144.00. Drug out the ladder and figured out how these things attached. Simple one side clips on to the gutter the other goes under the bottem shingle, EASY . I was finished in less than 2 hours. So I'm thinking how well will these hold up? It was August.
I have a 40 ft pine tree, red maple, elm and every thing my neighbors have too.
We had an extra hot summer. NO DAMAGE. WE had 1 1/2 feet of snow same results. Lots of rain , No LEAKS. And plenty of spring seeds and such.
nothing in the gutters , the screens didn't move ,high winds , hail sleet , you name it NO DAMAGE The water just Kepted running on out.
FALL, plenty of leaves, pine needles and stuff.The pine needles didn't get in or stuck in the screens. NOTHING IN THE GUTTERS.
Just Water. After 2 years I have had to do NOTHING. THe squirels don't even like them. How long will they last ? Time will tell. But I will say this , THEY WORK. Cheap Yes, last forever ,nothing does .
My neighbor got gutter helmet or something like it $ 4,000.00
My $180.00 investment has paid off big time. They may last many more years. No I don't work at lowes or the company that makes these things.
But I think I've cleaned my gutters for the last time.
Oh yeal I live in Louisville , Kentucky

[Sterling]

Please do an analysis of gutter guard systems.

[Jacquie]

I went the same route with the gutter screens. They worked for about 10 years in upstate NY. They gave out just about the same time my knees did so now I'm looking for a more permanent solution at a good price.

[J. Davidson]

We too, have a lot of leaves blowing around and are no longer easily able to clean out our gutters.Has anyone had any experience with the type of screen mentioned from Lowes? We get a lot of snow and cold weather in Syracuse, NY and are concerned about ice build up on the screens. Looking for a solution which won't causse a different kind of problem.

[Dessa Jarmon]

We too would love to see a report on gutter guards. We're about to replace our roof and now would be a great time to replace our gutters.

Our house is surrounded by black locust, and anyone who has ever been around these trees know they are dropping something ALL THE TIME. Our gutters are constantly clogged, and since we have a three story house getting out there on a ladder on our own is just not an option.

A note in regards to the previous post: Those little plastic screens don't work. They are on our house, all but a few of them have fallen in on one side, and all they do is hold the crud in. Because gutters are flat, nothing washes off. It's cheap, but will only cause problems later on!

[Mike Yanke]

I would love to have CR do a report on gutter guards. My parents are looking to have something installed and do not want to purchase something that does not work. They are getting older and should not be going up and down ladders all spring and fall.

Thanks CR, sooner the better!

[Dave]

I also am looking at gutter guard systems. I installed the screens mentioned by Ward above. I tested them on one side first and they did well in all 4 seasons. I live in SE Wisconsin and we experience weather extremes. I installed on the remaining gutters (several hundred feet). They did great until a large hail storm. The hail trashed the screens and did quite a number on the gutters. I am looking to replace gutters and screens/guards. I would LOVE to see a review from Consumer Reports before replacing the gutters.

[Chris]

So disappointed that CR has not researched gutter guards inspite of being begged for well over a year - nearly two. We're in the process of having gutter helmet installed in CA house and prefer to have comparisons between the different gutter guards available. If other folks are being quoted rates higher than $2500 for gutter helmet than you are being grossly overcharged.
We've already tried the screen only process and found it to be worthless- perhaps individual who did work did not know what he was doing.

[Roland]

I have reached an age that discourages me from getting on ladders. Would really appreciate advise on some form of gutter guard.

[Kirk Witzberger]

I'm just another CR subscriber wanting an independent evalutation of gutter guards. With prices ranging from $200 to $2000 for similar products, it's time for CR to get this done -- this kind of thing is why I subscribe!

[Bill]

I too am looking for gutter debris protection. Do not like the high price and look of GutterTopper, and have heard they are no more than 75% effective. Have now been shown an Alcoa aluminum product called Leaf Relief and was wondering how effective that system is. It's a little expensive, but supposed to be 97-100% effective, and has life span of 20+ years.
Are you ever going to do an evaluation of the various products available? A lot of us are getting older and uncertain about safety of climbing ladders to clean gutters at our age (70+). And also being on fixed income, don't want to expend more than necessary. Please help your "elder", loyal subscribers.

[Tom]

CR, please take note of the numerous requests for testing and analysis of commercial gutter guard products. I add my name to that request. There are so many products out there, and many are expensive, we need your testing and evaluation to help guide our decision making. A dedicated CR subscriber.

[Michael Scullin]

I, too, need help with preventing clogged downspouts, and keeping gutters clear. Lots of products. Screens are too fragile. Helmets, foam fillers, splash-away louvers, downspout screens and "pumps", cover wide range of prices and philosophies. What will work in upstate NY?
We've paid you for years. Please help us now.
Thanks.

[Mike]

How about a test of iRobot's Looj gutter cleaning robot? Does it work well?

[Sam]

CR sent me an email asking me to come back as a subscriber. Had they done gutter guard research I would. Or maybe I should say when they do, I will. We are looking to put them on several homes and have gotten expensive quotes, but don't want to waste our money on the wrong one.

[Martha Sumner]

We, too, would like some objective advice on gutter guards. The product prices vary from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars - big difference. We hope you'll do a study soon.

[Marite]

I am looking for gutter guards as well. Need them soon. I have Chinese elms that drop leaves and small twigs constantly. Several years ago I tried the plastic guards from Lowes but the wind blew so many off that I deemed them useless. I live in a high wind area near Chicago. The plastic guards are still in my garage, anyone want to buy them?

[Rhonda & Rick]

Add us to the list of subscribers who would like to see a CR review of gutter guards ASAP.