Clearing Gutter Ice Dams

An ice dam is defined as a build up of ice that gathers on the eaves of sloped roofs.

Clearing gutter ice dams. Those ice dams can cause some serious. This equates to a larger thicker ice dam than you would have had without gutters. However if your roof is developing ice dams because of poor attic insulation a large eave or another factor gutter guards won t help. So the first step is to remove this ice and snow using a snow rake which is a retractable rake that can extend up to about 17 feet or so in length.

But regardless you would have had ice dams anyway so don t go tearing the gutters off your house in an effort to prevent ice dams this winter. Eliminate its fuel source if left alone the ice dam will continue to be built up by the snow and ice up on your roof. See below for a shopp. They re meant to keep out leaves pine needles and other flotsam.

Gutter cleaning is important to help prevent ice dams ice dams can form in your gutters when water is unable to leave the system due to blockages and other debris. An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions. When it forms the water then backs up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water. Here are five ways to remove an ice dam from your roof.

Gutters do not cause ice dams. But they can also keep out your friendly neighborhood ice dam guys tech when it s time to remove that giant ice dam from your overhang. This pool of water can leak into your home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas. Gutter guards you know those gutter covers that starving phone salesmen try to sell you every autumn.

Ice dams on gutters result from melting snow over a heated building reaching the eave and freezing. 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. Some gutter guards work better than others and in many cases they might be a. An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof usually at the gutters or soffit.

Though ice dams can look picturesque with dangling icicles it s actually hard on your home. This in turn causes the water to sit in the gutters and with the onset of colder temperatures the water will then turn into ice and at that point you are in a world of hurt. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home. Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams.

If people try to tell you otherwise either politely correct them or slam the door. Gutter guards may prevent the gutter clogs that can cause or contribute to ice dams. 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.