diff --git a/util/metrics/gauge.go b/util/metrics/gauge.go
index 025d84bd32..c1497489e4 100644
--- a/util/metrics/gauge.go
+++ b/util/metrics/gauge.go
@@ -20,9 +20,25 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
+
+	"github.com/algorand/go-deadlock"
 )
 
+// Gauge represent a single gauge variable.
+type Gauge struct {
+	deadlock.Mutex
+	name          string
+	description   string
+	labels        map[string]int       // map each label ( i.e. httpErrorCode ) to an index.
+	valuesIndices map[int]*gaugeValues // maps each set of labels into a concrete gauge
+}
+
+type gaugeValues struct {
+	gauge           float64
+	labels          map[string]string
+	formattedLabels string
+}
+
 // MakeGauge create a new gauge with the provided name and description.
 func MakeGauge(metric MetricName) *Gauge {
 	c := &Gauge{
@@ -35,15 +51,6 @@ func MakeGauge(metric MetricName) *Gauge {
 	return c
 }
 
-// TouchAll updates all the timestamps associated with this metric.
-func (gauge *Gauge) TouchAll() {
-	gauge.Lock()
-	defer gauge.Unlock()
-	for _, val := range gauge.valuesIndices {
-		val.timestamp = time.Now()
-	}
-}
-
 // Register registers the gauge with the default/specific registry
 func (gauge *Gauge) Register(reg *Registry) {
 	if reg == nil {
@@ -73,16 +80,14 @@ func (gauge *Gauge) Add(x float64, labels map[string]string) {
 	if gaugeObj, has := gauge.valuesIndices[labelIndex]; !has {
 		// we need to add a new gauge.
 		val := &gaugeValues{
-			gauge:     x,
-			labels:    labels,
-			timestamp: time.Now(),
+			gauge:  x,
+			labels: labels,
 		}
 		val.createFormattedLabel()
 		gauge.valuesIndices[labelIndex] = val
 	} else {
 		// update existing value.
 		gaugeObj.gauge += x
-		gaugeObj.timestamp = time.Now()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -97,16 +102,14 @@ func (gauge *Gauge) Set(x float64, labels map[string]string) {
 	if gaugeObj, has := gauge.valuesIndices[labelIndex]; !has {
 		// we need to add a new gauge.
 		val := &gaugeValues{
-			gauge:     x,
-			labels:    labels,
-			timestamp: time.Now(),
+			gauge:  x,
+			labels: labels,
 		}
 		val.createFormattedLabel()
 		gauge.valuesIndices[labelIndex] = val
 	} else {
 		// update existing value.
 		gaugeObj.gauge = x
-		gaugeObj.timestamp = time.Now()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -139,26 +142,11 @@ func (cv *gaugeValues) createFormattedLabel() {
 	cv.formattedLabels = buf.String()[1:]
 }
 
-// filterExpiredMetrics scans the gauge.valuesIndices map and removing all the gauges that
-// haven't been updated in the past <maxMetricRetensionDuration> units of time.
-func (gauge *Gauge) filterExpiredMetrics() {
-	// find out what the cut off date is
-	metricRetensionThreshold := time.Now().Add(-maxMetricRetensionDuration)
-
-	for gaugeKey, gaugeObj := range gauge.valuesIndices {
-		if gaugeObj.timestamp.Before(metricRetensionThreshold) {
-			delete(gauge.valuesIndices, gaugeKey)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // WriteMetric writes the metric into the output stream
 func (gauge *Gauge) WriteMetric(buf *strings.Builder, parentLabels string) {
 	gauge.Lock()
 	defer gauge.Unlock()
 
-	gauge.filterExpiredMetrics()
-
 	if len(gauge.valuesIndices) < 1 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -190,8 +178,6 @@ func (gauge *Gauge) AddMetric(values map[string]string) {
 	gauge.Lock()
 	defer gauge.Unlock()
 
-	gauge.filterExpiredMetrics()
-
 	if len(gauge.valuesIndices) < 1 {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/util/metrics/gaugeCommon.go b/util/metrics/gaugeCommon.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 49b617cb8f..0000000000
--- a/util/metrics/gaugeCommon.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Algorand, Inc.
-// This file is part of go-algorand
-//
-// go-algorand is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-// it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
-// published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
-// License, or (at your option) any later version.
-//
-// go-algorand is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-// GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
-//
-// You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
-// along with go-algorand.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-package metrics
-
-import (
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/algorand/go-deadlock"
-)
-
-// Gauge represent a single gauge variable.
-type Gauge struct {
-	deadlock.Mutex
-	name          string
-	description   string
-	labels        map[string]int       // map each label ( i.e. httpErrorCode ) to an index.
-	valuesIndices map[int]*gaugeValues // maps each set of labels into a concrete gauge
-}
-
-type gaugeValues struct {
-	gauge           float64
-	timestamp       time.Time
-	labels          map[string]string
-	formattedLabels string
-}