I have tried all the lesser expensive things out there trying to save money. I have had to take them all out. I have wasted more money than I care to admit. The filters are just that "a filter" you do one of two things with a filter, clean it or throw it away. I'm scared to death of heights and don't want to have to climb up there to clean off my gutter protection. I finally got Gutter Helmet installed and have had it for 2 years now. Don't have a bit of problem with it. I did have a limb fall on my house and a section needed to be replaced. They came out and replaced that one section, no fuss.