eracode:

 

 

I have the Marley version. It's a terrible design. Fine debris accumulates and causes the filter to give way into the downpipe. Alternately, water pressure plus debris will cause weight to be applied with the same result. Terrible failure mode. Bad design execution. Regular cleaning does not prevent issues.

 

I watch the linked video linked above and thought that this looks very good - but also thought that the supplied mesh looked way too fine. 

Would it work better if the mesh was replaced with something like a 10 x 10 mm metal or plastic mesh? Then leaves would still get stopped - without clogging - but the water would get through.

I have all those leaf filters as I’m surrounded by trees and on tank water. The Leaf Eater Original was prone to clogging on the secondary fine mesh filter, but it’s now been updated and replaced by the Leaf Eater Plus which works really well!

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/rain-harvesting-leaf-eater-plus-rain-head-90mm-white/p/372709

The Marley Curve is okay, but it spills about 10% of the water passing through it, so it’s really only useful for short gutters.

Bung: I've not found anything that really saves you having to clear the gutters regularly. Anything that stops leaves seems to clog up. To make cleaning easier I've changed some gutters to external brackets and put downpipes at both ends.

Batman: Looking for ideas.

Have a 2 storey house and the fence is almost under the gutters.

So I can't get any ladder up there to clean.

Help!

Eva888: That looks an interesting idea. Do you have one yourself, or does anyone? As you say, would it allow enough flow to move wet leaves if the gutter is not on a slant.

In my opinion one problem with most gutters is they don't have enough fall. They may have the recommended minimum fall but that in my opinion isn't enough to get that water flowing properly along the gutter. If the water flows well most debris will be flushed out into the down pipe.

The flip side is that external gutters with plenty of fall can look a but odd as the fall will be noticeable against the barge board which will be level with the house. Also on long runs there often isn't enough vertical space on the barge board (or where ever the gutter is fixed) to allow for a decent fall.

gzt:
I have the Marley version. It's a terrible design. Fine debris accumulates and causes the filter to give way into the downpipe. Alternately, water pressure plus debris will cause weight to be applied with the same result. Terrible failure mode. Bad design execution. Regular cleaning does not prevent issues.

Did you know they have a new screen out that retrofits onto the old Leaf Eater boxes?   I'm about to order one.  https://rainharvesting.com.au/products/rain-heads/clean-shield-screen-leaf-eater/

It replaces the two original outer and inner screens with the single outer screen that is made of the fine mesh.  According to them it 'vibrates' a bit when water hits it and helps shake the leaves off better than the old outer screen.

Found this and it looks like a really good idea to me!  It runs a pipe inside your gutters that has small jets that you use to flush out your gutters.

https://guttersolutionz.co.nz/clip-n-flush-system.html

duckDecoy:

 

Found this and it looks like a really good idea to me!  It runs a pipe inside your gutters that has small jets that you use to flush out your gutters.

 

https://guttersolutionz.co.nz/clip-n-flush-system.html

 

 

 

i bet you thats expensive

duckDecoy:

 

gzt:
I have the Marley version. It's a terrible design. Fine debris accumulates and causes the filter to give way into the downpipe. Alternately, water pressure plus debris will cause weight to be applied with the same result. Terrible failure mode. Bad design execution. Regular cleaning does not prevent issues.

 

Did you know they have a new screen out that retrofits onto the old Leaf Eater boxes?   I'm about to order one.  https://rainharvesting.com.au/products/rain-heads/clean-shield-screen-leaf-eater/

 

It replaces the two original outer and inner screens with the single outer screen that is made of the fine mesh.  According to them it 'vibrates' a bit when water hits it and helps shake the leaves off better than the old outer screen.

 

 

 

What about the 'ultra' version, which has a cover? 

mattwnz:

 

What about the 'ultra' version, which has a cover? 

 

Seems fine.  But the version I linked to fits an existing unit (that we have) and fixes its dreadful design problems.  I'd prefer to try a $21 solution than to cut out my existing leaf eater and install and paint a new one.

neb: Got some for the Casa redo but haven't had them long enough for a full rain/leaf test. Ping me again in a couple of months, clogged gutters were a problem here due to proximity to pohutukawa and pine trees, pine being the worst offender.

neb:

neb: Got some for the Casa redo but haven't had them long enough for a full rain/leaf test. Ping me again in a couple of months, clogged gutters were a problem here due to proximity to pohutukawa and pine trees, pine being the worst offender.

Just checked them today and they've diverting quite a few leaves, I had no idea we were flushing so many leaves into the drains before they were fitted. I was also somewhat miffed that the builders put them at about chest height where they're rather visible but now I can see why, it makes it very easy to see and swipe out the leaves in them.

Would having them lower create more splashing from water dropping onto the grill from a higher level onto them? I thank only seen them installed higher up. 

mattwnz:

Would having them lower create more splashing from water dropping onto the grill from a higher level onto them? I thank only seen them installed higher up.