Gutters Cause Ice Dams

In order to separate fact from fiction and to make the right decisions for your home here s what you need to.

Gutters cause ice dams.

If not properly taken care of the ice will begin to build up under the shingles which may lead to water damage in the home. What damage do ice dams cause. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. Clogged gutters downspouts and underground drain tiles.

But if the combination of poor attic insulation poor ventilation and heavy snow causes an ice dam as so often happens you may rue the day you gave your gutters a hat. Gutters at the eaves can also trap snow and ice. 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.

Gutters don t work quite the same in the winter. Gutters do not cause ice dams. If ignored ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof gutters paint insulation and interior drywall and other surfaces. People who tell you gutters cause ice dams don t know the science behind ice dams.

In both cases the heat melts the ice on the roof. They don t as i ve written. A cubic foot of ice weights roughly 60 pounds and when enough builds up on your gutter guards they may collapse into the gutter system. If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter it can provide a foundation for an ice dam.

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. This constant refreezing can cause ice dams and icicles to form along the gutters. When an ice dam gets big enough melted water backs up behind it and seeps underneath the shingles. Since roof heat leads to ice dams one strategy to prevent ice dams is to reduce sources of roof heating.

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. Watch out a common sign of water damage caused from ice damming are water spots on the ceiling. On some houses ice dams are a pervasive and damaging winter roofing problem but other houses may have no trouble at all.

It s not that gutters and or gutter guards cause ice dams.