Seeing the neighborhood turn into a winter landscape can be enchanting at first, but the magic can take a backseat rather quickly when your home is no longer sufficiently protected by mentioned snowfall. As a result, gutters can easily become clogged with ice and snow and fail to function properly. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this from occurring.
Of course, it’s understandable if your gutters got frozen overnight before you had a chance to prepare. That’s why in this blog, we’ll be discussing steps on how to prevent and handle frozen gutters on your home.
How to Prepare for Frozen Gutters
Start by confirming that your gutters are properly sloped. Water that should be running downspout can easily sit in gutters if it’s too parallel with your home. This can easily result in the sitting water freezing overnight. What’s frustrating about this issue is that it doesn’t even have to snow for it to occur! This is just another reason why checking your gutters periodically is so important.
Additionally, adding rock salt to your gutters can work to preemptively melt ice, so feel free to add some in your gutters if you notice icicles starting to form. It may also be worth taking a look at your attic’s temperature. If the attic is too warm, snow on your roof can melt and end up in your gutters. Unfortunately, this can result in that water refreezing and creating an ice dam.
Another consideration is purchasing a heated cable designed to rest inside gutters. This gives you peace of mind should a sudden blizzard appear and fill your gutters with snow and ice.
How to Deal with Frozen Gutters
If you were unfortunate enough to wake up to a massive ice dam in your gutters, then it’s time to break out some additional equipment. A roof rake can be used to bust apart ice from the ground. The extra long handle makes it much easier to reach compared to standing on a ladder in freezing cold weather.
If you have one, you can also use a hot water hose to spray your gutters with a consistent stream of hot water. However, this method is not recommended for those with severely iced out gutters as it can be quite time-consuming and wasteful.
Alternatively, you can use roof tablets made from magnesium and potassium to melt ice without using large amounts of water. A gutter cleaning wand or similar device can be used to place the tablets, while the roof rake can help you bust apart ice after it’s melted.
Need Repairs? It May Be Time to Call a Gutter Company
In some cases, your iced gutters may be too difficult to clean on your own. If your gutters are old, they may require full-blown replacements if they are leaky or rusting. If this is the case, it’s worth calling a professional gutter company, especially when you don’t feel comfortable getting on a ladder yourself. Don’t hesitate to contact one today!
About Platinum Gutters
The team at Platinum Gutters is fully-trained to install, repair and replace residential gutters and gutter systems. They can give you valuable advice on maintenance and which gutter type is best for your home. To learn how you can get your gutters repaired in the event that ice causes damage, you can contact them through their website.