May 20, 2012

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Performance FAQs

What is the longevity of LeafFilter’s™ raw materials?

LeafFilter’s™ body is manufactured from exterior grade PVC that has a service life of 25 years. The LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System is made of stainless steel to prevent corrosion.

Has LeafFilter™ EVER allowed a gutter to clog?

No… Never.

How much rain can LeafFilter™ handle?

LeafFilter™ normally channels more water into the gutter than the downspout can handle. If LeafFilter™ protected gutters overflow, it’s not due to clogs, but to the gutter and downspouts inability to handle a high flow of water. LeafFilter™ has handled heavy downpours from thunderstorms with an estimated 10-12 inches of rain falling per hour on shingled roofs with a 5/12 to 12/12 pitch and rafter spans of 28 feet or less. We did NOT notice rivulets of water coming over the LeafFilter™ product. If your roof material is metal or the pitch is flat, 3/12 or less, then LeafFilter™ may not be the correct choice for the application.

Your competition says that they handle 20-22” of water per hour. If LeafFilter™ is better, why does it only handle 10” per hour?

In addition to 22” of water per hour, accompanying debris will also be drawn into your gutter if protected by alternative products. This is not a good investment. The more water that enters our competitor’s reverse curve systems, the more debris that enters as well and the quicker your gutter clogs. It’s best to invest in a product such as LeafFilter™ that keeps debris out of your gutter during heavy rainfalls every time, rather than invest in a product that claims to handle Noah’s flood but risks clogging your gutter.

Will I ever look up and see a stream of water running over LeafFilter™?

It would be a rare occurrence on a straight run of gutter, but it’s possible in the following situations and locations:

  1. At the inside corner of a gutter where two or more roof surface areas feed large water runoff volumes to an inside corner of the LeafFilter™ product.
  2. In areas where a second story downspout empties onto a first story gutter and directs a large stream of water onto a small area of LeafFilter™.

To date, most gutter protection systems on the market acknowledge that inside corners and any areas where a second roof downspout empties into a first story gutter are problem “water overflow” areas for their products. A homeowner may request that a valley “diverter” be installed to slow water flow in these areas, but such diverters are either subject to causing debris dams or look bulky and unattractive. K-guard, LeafGuard, Gutter Helmet, and Waterloov all offer their own custom diverters for inside valleys. We think diverters that employ reverse curve channels may possibly become debris traps. Currently, there doesn’t seem to be a good solution for this problem. Most homeowners see this as a tolerable occurrence compared to the situation where there is total overflow over an unprotected gutter system.

Does debris ever sit on LeafFilter™? If so, doesn’t water run over the top of it and miss my gutter?

Debris may sit on top of LeafFilter™ just as it does on any other gutter protection system. Pollen coated oak tassels sometimes adhere to vertical siding and metal fascia so it’s likely that some debris may sit on LeafFilter™ and stay there. You’ll find that rainwater typically runs UNDER debris, into the LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System, then into your gutter. LeafFilter™ WILL protect the function of your gutter even with debris on it. Trickles of water may flow over leaf stems or branches, but the bulk of the water will fall “debris free” into your gutter.

Are there any types of roofs or special situations where LeafFilter™ is not recommended because it doesn’t work?

We recommend contacting your local authorized dealer if you have a metal roof application. Metal roofs tend to send water toward a gutter in “waves” rather than the more uniform pattern of water flow that occurs on slate, shakes, and asphalt shingles. These waves can shoot water right past LeafFilter™ and XELA FilterShield. Also, LeafFilter™ has a hard time with flat and Gambrel roofs. On these types of roofs, LeafFilter™ becomes a “shelf” for debris to sit on. A downward angled extension of a 4/12 to 12/12 pitched roof is ideal for proper function of LeafFilter™. Again, please have your local authorized dealer assess your situation to make sure LeafFilter™ is the correct product for your application.

Can birds or squirrels eat through LeafFilter™?

LeafFilter™ contains titanium oxide; birds will not eat or attempt to nest within it. However, a squirrel could eat through LeafFilter™, especially if he was on LeafGuard’s payroll. We have NOT had any reported instances of this yet!

Your competitors say “Filters clog and need replacement so it only makes sense that LeafFilter™ clogs and will need replacement.” Is this true?

No. LeafFilter™ will never clog. A competitor that claims LeafFilter™ will clog doesn’t understand or is unaware of LeafFilter’s™ unblemished performance record. LeafFilter™ has NEVER been asked for a refund due to a clogged gutter. The LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System has self cleaning properties; no organic debris or shingle grit can permanently adhere to it and cause it to clog. Typical gutter-clogging elements of nature are no match for the the LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System!

Your competitors say “No product can keep out pine needles, oak tassels, maple tree helicopters or shingle grit all the time.”

Yes, LeafFilter™ does. Guaranteed.

I’ve noticed that you have mentioned the “LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System” isn’t vital to LeafFilter™’s ability to keep a gutter clog-free. What purpose does it serve?

The LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System is stage one of a whole house water purification system. It reduces the size of contaminants that enter a gutter to 100 microns, making the job of standard water purifiers much easier. Our goal is to have the water coming out of your gutter purer than the water coming out of your faucet!

At this moment, hundreds of U.S. municipalities are engaged in litigation over access to “potable” water sources. Over 1,000 gallons of water can be collected from the gutters of an average home during a one hour moderate rainfall. It’s our goal to give you the option of storing purified rainwater in case the day arises when you need it. Even with other water sources available, your coffee never tastes better than when it’s brewed with uncontaminated water (no chlorine, metals, or calcium present.) LeafFilter™ is a quest that keeps in mind the future of water purification and environmental safety.

What is LeafFilter’s™ “weakest link” performance-wise?

The LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System may require periodic cleaning in high pollen areas. Cleaning is easy, just wipe the LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System with a brush using a water and light dish soap solution. This isn’t a significant disadvantage since the LeafFilter™ “NO CLOG” money-back guarantee is always in force.

How does snow and ice affect LeafFilter™?

LeafFilter™ sits on top of hidden hangers in the gutter system and the water on the LeafFilter™ Stainless Steel Micro-Filtration System freezes, minimizing ice build up in the gutter. LeafFilter™ does not cause nor prevent ice damming on a roof. For more information on ice dams, their causes, and ways to prevent ice damming, visit any of the sites related to the topic that can be found by simple internet searches.