Mesh guards can definitely help, but they're not a perfect solution in my experience. I installed some last year thinking they'd be the ultimate fix, but smaller debris like pine needles still managed to slip through occasionally. They did cut down on the bigger stuff though, which meant fewer trips up the ladder overall. I'd say they're worth it, just don't expect them to eliminate maintenance completely...
"smaller debris like pine needles still managed to slip through occasionally"
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about too. I've got a huge maple tree nearby, and those tiny helicopter seeds get everywhere... Wondering if anyone's tried adding an extra filter or something before the water hits the storage tank?
I've seen people rig up simple DIY filters with mesh screens or even nylon pantyhose—yeah, sounds goofy but it actually works pretty well. Those maple seeds are sneaky little buggers, though, so you might need something finer like window screening material. Just remember, the finer the mesh, the quicker it'll clog up, so keep an eye on it or you'll have a mini waterfall situation next heavy rain... ask me how I know, lol.
Pantyhose actually isn't a bad idea for a quick fix, but yeah, maple seeds are tricky—they slip right through anything too loose. Window screen mesh is decent, but like you said, it clogs fast. I've found that layering works pretty well: a coarse mesh on top to catch leaves and bigger debris, then a finer mesh underneath to grab those pesky helicopter seeds. That way, the finer screen doesn't clog up quite as quickly.
Also, angle your filter slightly if you can. If it's flat, everything just piles up and blocks water flow super fast. A slight slope helps debris slide off or at least makes it easier to clean off after a storm. Learned this the hard way when I had to climb up in pouring rain to clear mine out—definitely not fun, lol.
One other thing: make sure your overflow system is solid. No matter how good your filter setup is, there's always gonna be that one storm that dumps more than you expect... better safe than sorry.
Good call on angling the filter—I learned that lesson too after a messy overflow. Layering meshes definitely helps, but honestly, I still end up clearing mine pretty often during maple seed season... those things are relentless, lol.
