The Leaf-Defier XL is a system that cleans out gutters and ensures that water continues running smoothly, reducing the chances of a mosquito or other pest infestation later on down the line, according to Mitch Taylor of Capital Pest Services, Inc. Taylor is the general manager of Capital Pest Services, and a gutter protection expert in Raleigh with years of experience. He says that despite its simplicity, the Leaf-Defier system remains one of the best methods he has seen for ensuring the cleanliness of gutters on all types of homes.
The Leaf-Defier product is a coated foam and insulation piece that is cut to fit perfectly inside gutters without being seen from the ground down below. The product itself lies flush inside the gutters on a home, and allows rain to pass through without getting clogged up with debris. Taylor explains that the Leaf-Defier system is typically coupled with a cleanout of the gutters. So a homeowner who calls and asks for the Leaf-Defier system can also expect to have a gutter cleanout performed at the same time.
The way the Leaf-Defier avoids getting clogged with debris has to do with its draining system, which stops oversized debris—like pinecones, leaves, and other things like that—from entering into the gutter in the first place. Instead, the pinecones and leaves are caught on top of the system, where they will dry out eventually and blow off completely.
The fact that the Leaf-Defier system cannot be seen from ground level is important to many homeowners, because some gutter protection systems that people in Raleigh installed in the past were very unsightly, Taylor explains. However, since the Leaf-Defier system sits flush inside the gutter, there is no way that it can be seen from ground level.
Although the Leaf-Defier system was originally intended to eliminate clogged gutters, pest control experts have discovered that it has another use. In addition to providing gutter protection, the Leaf-Defier system also prevents secondary insect infestations along the gutter lines. When the gutter lines get clogged up with debris and water, that can create an environment that is a perfect breeding ground for dangerous pests and flying insects. If water begins to sit still and build up, then the result can be an increase in mold or bacteria in the gutters of a home. Insects like mosquitoes and flies love to feed and grow in this type of moist, wet, moldy environment, which is why clogged gutters can quickly become a breeding ground for insects if they are not treated properly.
Of course, one of the worst parts of this scenario is that mosquitoes—which can be quite dangerous, especially for children and the elderly—are the exact type of insect that will thrive in a wet-gutter environment. Now that researchers are certain that the West Nile Virus is being spread by mosquitoes, there has been an increased sense of urgency to get rid of any breeding grounds that could be facilitating the spread of the disease. Taylor explains that this is part of the reason why the Leaf-Defier system has become so popular, as people become more and more interested in getting rid of any moist environments that could be conducive to mosquito growth.
Mosquitoes are not the only insects that can breed in clogged, dirty gutter. Taylor tells us that other insects that can breed in these secondary levels include roaches, beetles, and even termites. “It is possible to have a secondary termite infestation if reproductive termites fly from the ground level and swarm,” he says. “They could end up on the roof line or the gutter line, and then if there is a moisture source present there then they can sustain a colony on the secondary level.”
To avoid these issues altogether and better protect your home from pest infestation, Taylor recommends that homeowners look into the Leaf-Defier system. The system itself is priced by the linear foot, with costs ranging between $8 and $12 per linear foot. That price includes all labor, materials, and installation costs, Taylor explains. “The reason for the price range is to account for the different types of houses, different heights of gutters, and the differences in terms of how much the gutters have to be cleaned out before the project can begin,” he says.
Taylor says that someone with an average-sized home who has relatively clean gutters can expect to pay closer to the $8 per linear foot estimate to have the Leaf-Defier system installed, while someone whose home requires a substantial gutter clean out before the installation can begin will be looking at the higher end of the price range.
