Every winter, when the temperatures drop and cold weather rolls in, we get questions from homeowners about how to protect their gutter systems from winter weather and ice.
Questions like “What will the winter weather do to my gutters?” and “Can my gutter system survive an ice storm?” are not unusual to hear.
The fact is, ice does indeed impact your gutters if you aren’t prepared. The good news? There are steps you can take to mitigate and prevent the damage.
Let’s take a look at how ice can damage your gutters and how you can protect them with some preventative maintenance.
Ice Can Result in Downspout Blockages
With each new round of winter precipitation (and the freeze that usually follows), more ice builds up in your downspouts. This ice buildup causes clogs. When this happens, your downspouts can’t do what they were designed for – to help get water off of your roof and away from your home. When ice blockages build up, it can damage or even ruin your gutter system.
Blockages Can Cause Ice Dams to Form
When your gutters and downspouts build up ice (causing blockages), ice dams can eventually form. Ice dams are essentially big slabs of ice that form along your roofline. When these slabs melt, water can leak under your roofline, which can cause your shingles to peel. Ice dams are also known to form in gutter systems.
Icicles – Great for the Gram, Not for Your Gutters
Icicles look great in your winter photos on Instagram, but they can be quite harmful to your gutter system. When icicles form, they often hang off your gutters, pulling them away from your home. Icicles that hang for extended periods can lead to your gutters working improperly and can even damage your home.
How to Prevent Ice Damage This Winter
Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is absolutely the best way to protect your gutters and your home from winter storm damage. If you don’t have the time or you don’t want to take the risk that comes with falling off a ladder, give Gutter Boyz of Kentucky a call. Our professionals are trained to clean gutters and remove the debris is a safe manner.
Remove Limbs
While you’re cleaning out the clogs in your gutter system, you might as well go ahead and remove any limbs that are hanging close to your roof or gutters. When ice collects on these branches, they can snap and damage your roof and gutters.
Gutter Installation and Maintenance Done Right
Preventative maintenance can pay dividends when winter weather comes around. With that said, it’s not always feasible for homeowners to climb up on their roof or even make the time to start removing clogs. Some homeowners have gutters in such disrepair that they just ignore it and don’t worry about ice damage.
That’s where Gutter Boyz of Kentucky – with a team of hardworking gutter technicians, we have the passion and the experience to take care of all of your gutter installation and maintenance needs. From simple quotes to large-scale gutter installation jobs, we’ve got you covered. For more information or to receive a FREE QUOTE, give us a call today at 270-906-3055.