Surface Tension Gutter Guards: Keeping Your Gutters Clean

Surface Tension – How Does it Work with Gutter Protection?

Interesting Fact: Water defies gravity on a daily basis.

‘How?’ You ask.

Surface Tension.

What is Surface Tension?

Surface tension: “The property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.” – USGS.gov.

In other words, water wants to stick together (cohesion) and to the surface, it is in contact with (adhesion) – so much so that it can resist external forces such as gravity.

If you stop to think about it, we see this every day. 

Everyday Surface Tension

For example, when you put some water on your hand, it will bead up (cohesion) and run down your arm (adhesion) until the surface changes at the elbow!

Or what about the frustrating experience when you spill a glass of water on the counter? Instead of all the water falling off the edge of the counter directly to the ground, it follows the edge of the countertop around and runs down the face of your cabinets into your drawers and behind your cabinet doors.

That’s surface tension in a nutshell. 

But, what does surface tension have to do with gutter protection? First, let’s explore what gutter protection looks like without surface tension.

Gutter Protection Without Surface Tension

Many leaf filters, guards and screens forget to employ surface tension in their design. 

Therefore, they have to create holes in the top of their products to allow water in. 

The problem is, these holes allow small debris in as well. Remember, a single tree can drop a tremendous amount of seeds, pollen, sap and needles – more than enough to slip into, or block the holes and clog your gutters and the leaf filter or screen itself. 

This means the homeowner has to clean not just his gutters, but his gutter screens too!

Some leaf filters try to side-step this problem by having a micro-mesh screen – too small for anything but dirt and water to enter. 

While keeping debris out of the gutter, the micro-mesh has a different problem – the pollen, tree sap, oak tassels, and other sticky debris get trapped on the micromesh and cover the micro-perforations.

Think of a micro-mesh leaf filter like a furnace filter – the filter keeps dirt from circulating through the house but the dirt eventually clogs the filter and chokes the furnace so it can’t move air once the filter is clogged. Just like that furnace filter, maintenance is required with a gutter filter since huge amounts of debris fall from trees.

The result of a clogged gutter filter is that rainwater has no way to enter the gutter system. This can force thousands of gallons of water to flow over your gutters, down the face of your soffit, fascia, and siding ending up in a pool around your foundation.

Clearly, a solid gutter cover is needed to prevent these problems. 

But, ‘How does water get into your gutter if you have a solid gutter cover that is not a screen?’

How Does Surface Tension Work with Gutter Protection? 

Water wants to stick to the surface its already on (adhesion), so when it falls from the sky onto the roof – it’s found its surface! As it rolls down the roof and combines with other water molecules (cohesion), it meets the gutter guard and as a collective group, the water molecules cling to the guard (adhesion).

You might expect the water to encounter the steep curve towards the gutter and give in to gravity by flowing off the edge of the cover.

This is where the trick comes in.

Due to surface tension – water has a strong desire to adhere to a surface, therefore, it continues to adhere to the guard – defying gravity – until it meets the gutter. 

Really, this is not so different from the way water responds to your kitchen counter and cabinets.

Why Surface Tension is an Advantage for Gutter Guards

Surface tension or reverse curve gutter guards are a type of gutter protection designed to direct rainwater into the gutter while deflecting debris, such as leaves and twigs, away from the gutter. They have a solid cover that creates a roof over the opening of your existing gutters.

The designers of Advantage Gutter Guard® used physics and surface tension to make sure that the curve of the cover was at an angle that maximizes surface tension. This allows the water to defy gravity and cling onto the gutter guard (adhesion) until it is introduced to its next surface – your gutter. 

Surface Tension gives the Advantage Gutter Guard® two Advantages:

1. Using surface tension, the Advantage Gutter Guard® is able to be completely solid, while still safely delivering rainwater to its rightful place – the gutter. The water from the roof is directed into the gutter and away from the house, even in the heaviest downpours. The solid surface means no debris can penetrate through the top of the guard. The success of its design is credited to surface tension and liquid adhesion. AKA: water’s ability to defy gravity.

2. In developing the best angle for surface tension, the Advantage Gutter Guard® designers were able to extend the guard past the front edge of the gutter – creating an angled, tiny entrance that water with its gravity-defying properties can find. This nose-forward design is advantageous because it ensures that debris is deflected away from the gutter. Your gutters will not clog, guaranteed!

In essence, Surface Tension is the scientific principle that guarantees the function of the Advantage Gutter Guard®.

Ready For A Gutter Guard That Works?

Tired of leaf filters, screens, and covers that have holes and leave you cleaning them out in addition to your gutters?

If you’re ready for a permanent solution, the Advantage Gutter Guard® has a lifetime guarantee that your gutters will never clog again. It also has a company behind it that has helped thousands of happy customers. 

Give Advantage Gutter Guard® a chance and get an estimate from Gutter Cover KC®. The Gutter Cover KC® professional you meet has the goal to “keep water where it belongs”. They will perform a thorough 21-point inspection to make sure that clogged gutters will never cause damage to your home again.

Still, having a hard time believing in surface tension? Check out our reviews and BBB reputation. The proof is in the pudding!

Get Your Estimate Today:

FAQs

Are reverse curve guards high maintenance?

No, in fact, they can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of maintenance. They eliminate the chore of gutter cleaning. Advantage Gutter Guard ® has been designed to cover the gutter completely using a nose-forward design. This design blocks and deflects debris away from the gutter so well that it comes with a lifetime no-clog guarantee. Engineered to use the physics of surface tension, Advantage Gutter Guard® guides the water effortlessly into the gutter. Even working in very heavy rain downpours.

In comparison, brush gutter guards, foam gutter guards, screen gutter guards, and micro mesh gutter guards require regular maintenance to prevent debris buildup.

Why should I choose a reverse curve gutter guard over other gutter systems?

The reverse curve design has been around for decades, making it one of the more time-tested and reliable options available. The versatile design of Advantage Gutter Guard® makes it compatible with various roof types. The sleek appearance is also aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, it will deter birds from nesting and is constructed from durable materials for longevity.