As a homeowner, you have the option to have gutter guards installed or keep your gutters without them. Though they typically do a proficient job, both the gutters and the gutter guards will need to be cleaned at least once or twice every year. Trying to keep your gutters and gutter guards clean is not an easy task. This is even more common if you live in a several-story home. Gutter guards do reduce the amount of junk and debris that get into gutters drastically. However, with that being said, they cannot keep everything out. You are going to find out seeds, bugs, and dirt pile up quickly. The proper method you take for emptying out the gutters and cleaning the guards all depends on the type of guard system on your home. For a basic gutter system, the most commonly given advice is to clean them at least twice yearly. If you have trees in your yard that lose a lot of debris, like pine trees you may have more issues. Though gutter guards are supposed to reduce the maintenance you need to perform, sometimes they do not get rid of gutter maintenance completely. Since gutter guards are added to your existing gutters in 3-6 ft panels, there are small edges where the panels are connected. As time goes on and weather occurs, these seams can stretch, which can allow debris to get stuck. Because of this, it is recommended to make sure that the seams have not come apart and become clogged. To clean the gutters the correct way, you need to hire a professional with specific equipment for this purpose. They should be cleaned in a very safe and easy manner. When gutters are not kept clean, the rainwater that runs through them will not have a way out. Therefore, all of this rainwater will gather up on your property. Although some may state that gutter guards don’t need to be cleaned, they still need regular maintenance reviews.