Cause Of Ice Dams In Gutters

On some houses ice dams are a pervasive and damaging winter roofing problem but other houses may have no trouble at all.

Cause of ice dams in gutters.

Gutters at the eaves can also trap snow and ice. In order to separate fact from fiction and to make the right decisions for your home here s what you need to. Since roof heat leads to ice dams one strategy to prevent ice dams is to reduce sources of roof heating. A gutter cover and gutter heating system prevent debris and ice accumulation.

This might mean adding more insulation fixing problematic chimneys or skylights and looking and addressing sources of escaping air. If people try to tell you otherwise either politely correct them or slam the door in their face and let them use the money they make from their revolutionary no ice dam gutter system to have a surgeon un flatten their nose. The havoc ice dams wreak. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter.

As gutters fill with ice they often bend and rip away from the house bringing fascia fasteners and downspouts in tow. When an ice dam gets big enough melted water backs up behind it and seeps underneath the shingles. When this happens they fallen gutter protection actually cause a blockage which can lead to ice dams and expensive damage to your home. We estimate that 75 of all ice dams originate in the gutter.

Then it will refreeze at the edge of the roof or in the gutter and cause the dam to form and potential damage as a result. These large masses can cause your gutter system to tear down or other damages dangers to the surrounding areas. Gutters do not cause ice dams. In both cases the heat melts the ice on the roof.

Contrary to popular belief gutters do not cause ice dams. People who tell you gutters cause ice dams don t know the science behind ice dams. If ignored ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof gutters paint insulation and interior drywall and other surfaces. What damage do ice dams cause.

However gutters do help to concentrate ice and water in the very vulnerable area at the edge of the roof. Roofs leak on attic insulation. If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter it can provide a foundation for an ice dam. The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.

If necessary use a long handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position. Clogged gutters downspouts and underground drain tiles.