Gutters And Ice Dams

Different from normal icicles ice dams are large buildups of ice on your gutter.

Gutters and ice dams.

Meltwater drains down to the eaves or gutters where it refreezes and the accumulating ice makes a dam preventing additional snow melt from draining off. Gutters have a tendency to collect leaves and other debris and that makes gutter guards an important part of your roof s drainage system. These large masses can cause your gutter system to tear down or other damages dangers to the surrounding areas. The roof is connected to the interior of the home and sometimes it can be a venue for heat leakage.

See below for a shopp. This backup is usually caused by clogs in the system that prevent water from flowing into the trough down the spouts and away from your home. This myth has lingered like a bad smell and has resulted in many puzzled frustrated homeowners. Two types of people will tell you that gutters cause ice dams.

This can also prevent the drainage flow of melted snow and ice through your gutters which can lead to water damage. If ignored ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof gutters paint insulation and interior drywall and other surfaces. Ice dams can form in your gutters when rainwater or other precipitation backs up in your gutters and freezes due to cold temperatures in the winter late fall or early spring. People who don t know the science behind ice dams and people who want to sell you a gutter system that supposedly prevents ice dams from forming.

Gutters are perfect places for ice dams to form especially if they re already clogged with leaves and debris. In part ice dams occur because there is a difference between the heat on the roof and the heat in your gutters. An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions. Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams.

The notion that gutters cause ice dams to form on your roof is one of them. It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home. One side effect of installing gutter guards on your horizontal runs is they can help to generate ice sickles and dams as water freezes during the winter.

If necessary use a long handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter.