Rain gutters should be kept free of leaves and other debris; otherwise, water will back up at the downspouts, filling them up. When this happens, the weight can dislodge or bend the gutters and—worse—the water will spill down the house, potentially damaging windows, doors, siding, and the foundation.

You should inspect and clean gutters and downspouts at least twice a year to make sure they’re not clogged with leaves and debris. If you have your gutters cleaned out professionally, expect to pay about $95 to $125 for a single-story, 2,500-square-foot house and more for a two-story or larger house.

A popular remedy for periodic gutter cleaning is to install some type of gutter guard or leaf-catching system. Many different products are available, ranging from very inexpensive wire screening to extremely pricey enclosed gutter-control systems.

Most gutter guard products can be grouped into these basic categories:

1) Solid gutter covers that deflect leaves and debris while capturing the rain runoff

2) Various types of screens that filter the debris from the water, from expensive micro-mesh screen systems to super-cheap screen panels

3) Perforated aluminum and PVC covers that allow water but not leaves to enter the gutters

4) Gutter inserts made of foam or brushes that prevent leaves and debris from clogging the gutters but allow water to drain through the channels.

Within each of these categories, there are many different manufacturers, each touting the benefits of their products. In making a selection, you will be faced with some major decisions, beginning with budget. You can spend as little as $.30 per lineal foot for simple screening that you install yourself and as much as $30 per foot for professionally installed, solid gutter covers. As a rule, fine-mesh screening and solid covers requiring professional installation will run from $20 to $30 per foot.

Depending upon the product, gutter guards will have varying degrees of effectiveness. Some are awesome at blocking debris but may allow considerable rainwater to spill over the eaves, for example.

Some reject most but not all leaves and debris, so they need to be cleaned occasionally. Depending upon their design, this can become a bigger hassle than cleaning gutters with no covers if the guards can’t be removed easily, for example.

Some gutter guards are great beneath broadleaf trees but marginal at rejecting needles or seeds. Some are good for low-sloped roofs but allow too much spillover on a steeply pitched or metal roof. Some encourage massive icicles in snowy, freezing weather.

Unless you’re going to opt for the least expensive, easiest-to-install options such as simple screens available at home improvement centers, it’s wise to check with neighbors who are happy with their gutter control systems, especially if their homes have similar conditions to yours.

If a particular gutter guard company is pitching you on its product, the best way to check it out is to request the names and phone numbers of satisfied customers and give them a call.