How Do I Keep My Gutters from Freezing in the Winter?
During the winter months, the harsh weather conditions have a huge impact on your house. Your gutter system is one thing to keep an eye on during the winter months.
Learn about gutter winter issues so you'll know when it's time to act.
Clogged Downspouts
In the winter, clogged gutters can be a nuisance. Your downspouts will get clogged if you don't keep your gutters clean of debris. Snow, ice, and rainwater do not drain out of the downspouts as they should, causing the gutter system to freeze and become blocked. You can avoid this issue by ensuring that all debris in the gutters is collected.
Ice Dams
During the winter, ice dams are a common gutter problem. Cleaning gutters and keeping them free of debris is the solution to the problem. Water sits in clogged gutters and freezes instead of draining. As a result, huge blocks of ice form in the gutters and freeze. Large blocks of ice may be layered or heavy from the accumulation of many snowstorms, and the extra weight of the ice enables the freezing of backed-up water under shingles. As a consequence, your roofs are damaged. Rain gutters can also fully detach from the roof.
Icicles
When the cold weather arrives and the snow begins to fall, it's likely that you've seen icicles. If there are blockages that cause water to overflow, icicles grow on gutters and hang from your roof. Icicles are dangerous to one's health and obnoxious to look at. If an icicle falls off your roof and hits someone, there's a good chance they'll be hurt, if not killed. If you allow icicles to form and become strong, you will need to replace or fix your gutter system, which is something you don't want to deal with later in the year.
Excessive Snow Loads
If you live in a snowy place, you can find a way to clear your gutters on a regular basis. The weight of high, wet snowfall is too much for drains to manage. Brushing out the snow in the gutter system to alleviate the pressure will help you avoid this winter issue. It also aids in keeping the gutter system in good working order during the season and beyond.