Should You Cover Your Gutters in Winter? Home Maintenance Pros Weigh In

While early autumn is considered the optimal time to cover your gutters, winter brings its own set of challenges, including twigs, fallen pine needles, seedpods, ice, snow, and sludge. So, if you never got around to covering your gutters in autumn, now is the perfect time to do so.

"Winter is one of the harshest seasons for gutters," says Chris Counahan, the president of LeafFilter. "And adding gutter guards is an easy way to prevent clogs, ice dams, and water overflow when you need your gutter system working at its hardest." Not to mention, uncovered gutters can clog, freeze, overflow, and push water into the roofline or around the home's foundation.

To save you from expensive home repairs, we consulted the experts. Read on to learn how to best cover your gutters so that your system runs smoothly and efficiently all winter long.

Benefits of Covering Gutters

The following are excellent reasons to cover your gutters before winter's harsh weather arrives.

Helps Prevent Ice Dams

Uncovered gutters make it easy for leaves, pine needles, and debris to enter the gutter, which can trap water. "If water sits and freezes, it may form ice dams, leading to leaks or roof damage," says James Hartkorn, sales manager at Thrasher Foundation Repair. Gutter covers keep water flowing, helping melted snow or ice drain properly instead of pooling. 

Protects the Home's Foundation

Winter overflow from unprotected gutters can pool and freeze around the foundation of your home. "Over time, that freeze-thaw cycle leads to cracks, which are one of the most expensive forms of home damage," Counahan warns.

Unobstructed gutters divert rainwater and melting snow away from the house's foundation, preventing this problem. "Covering them helps ensure this drainage remains effective, reducing the chance of basement leaks or foundation damage," says Hartkorn. 

Reduces Stress on the Gutter System

While gutters are designed to catch fall debris, too much can cause permanent damage. "Debris plus heavy snow is a recipe for sagging, bending, or gutters pulling away from the home," says Counahan. "Keeping gutters clear and covered makes the entire system more durable in winter weather."

Minimizes Maintenance

Covering your gutters will also reduce the need for frequent cleaning, even in leaf-heavy seasons. Gutter covers—also called gutter guards—block debris like leaves, twigs, and needles, greatly reducing the need to climb ladders, clean gutters manually, or hire someone to come clear them, says Counahan. 

Helps Prevent Moisture, Mold, and Fascia Damage

Overflowing winter gutters can cause water to build up behind your home's siding or fascia boards, which leads to rot, staining, and mold growth, explains Counahan. "Gutter protection keeps channels clear, allowing meltwater to drain properly," he adds.

Prevents Damage to Walkways and Landscaping

Leaving your gutters uncovered can lead to water overflow, creating ice buildup on walkways and potentially ruining your landscaping, says David Rosser, expert for the LeafGuard brand at Great Day Improvements. Dangerous icicles can also form, making entryways unsafe.

Extends the Lifespan of Your Gutters

Covering your gutters before winter is guaranteed to extend your system's lifespan by reducing the risk of damage from winter elements. "When gutters are free of debris, water flows freely, preventing overload, sagging, and potential leaks or structural stress," says Hartkorn. "This helps avoid long-term damage to gutters, fascia boards, and roof edges."

Prevents Pest Infestations

Gutters packed with wet leaves become a winter home for rodents, birds, and insects, says Counahan. Gutter guards help block debris and reduce standing water, making gutters less hospitable to pests. 

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Methods for Covering Gutters

Once you’re ready to cover your gutters, you have a number of viable options. Choose any of the following methods when covering your gutters this winter. 

Mesh or Screen Gutter Guards

Mesh or screen gutter guards are metal or plastic screens that sit over the top of the gutter and keep out leaves, pine needles, and twigs, says Hartkorn. 

Reverse-Curve Gutter Guards

Reverse-curve gutter guards are solid covers that extend over the gutter and curve downward at the edge. This design allows water to cling to the curve and slip into the gutter, while debris slides off. This option works well for homes surrounded by many trees, says Hartkorn.

Reverse-curve gutter guards are slightly more advanced than some other options, so they need to be installed cautiously and correctly. "The angle matters a lot," says Hartkorn. "If it’s the wrong angle, water will shoot right over the top."

Foam Inserts

Another method of covering gutters is by using foam inserts. "These are triangular pieces of porous foam that sit inside the gutters," Hartkorn says. "Water runs through the foam while debris sits on top."

Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards

Micro-mesh gutter guards are the premium option, Hartkorn says. These gutter guards are made of a fine stainless steel mesh with an aluminum frame. "They keep out almost everything and can handle heavy water flows," he says. "They cost more, but they do their job well."

Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the following mistakes when installing and servicing gutter guards to ensure they run effectively.

• DIYing a gutter guard: "DIY-ing it can often make problems worse," cautions Harkton. "I’ve seen guards shoved under shingles, panels installed at the wrong angle, or screws in the wrong place." These mistakes can void your roof warranty, cause leaks, or make the gutters overflow. Ill-fitting guards may not perform as intended, creating gaps, winter clogs, overflow, and ice dams.
• Choosing the wrong type of cover: "Every home needs something different," says Hartkorn. "A lot of trees around the house require a micro-mesh or smaller holes in the guard. A lot of rain requires a guard that can handle high water flow."
• Neglecting regular maintenance: While gutter guards reduce maintenance needs, you still need to check them once or twice a year to ensure everything is working properly.
• Trusting "clog-free" products: Some products promise that the insides of your gutters will stay clog-free, but homeowners still need to clean the cover every two to three months, Rosser says.
• Not hiring a professional: When in doubt, have a professional inspect your gutter system to ensure it is functioning properly. The debris inside is often not the core issue, and you will need someone to check it out and make a diagnosis.
• Installing gutter guards on damaged gutters: Gutters that are sagging, warped, or draining incorrectly should be repaired or realigned for optimal performance of a gutter protection system, says Counahan.