If you have ever seen the way winter sunlight reflects off icicles hanging from the side of a house, you know it’s a pretty scene. As pretty as they look, icicles are actually damaging to a house and gutters, and potentially harmful to anybody who walks under them. Icicles are an after-effect of ice damming, and clogged gutters can contribute to this problem.
How Gutter Blockage Helps Ice Dams Form
While clogged gutters do not actually cause ice dams, they can definitely worsen the problem. When your roof heats up and snow begins to melt, the resulting water flowing down your roof needs a place to go. If the water is unable to drain away due to gutters that are blocked by leaves and debris, ice will build up, gutters will overflow and you are well on your way to an ice dam. There is also potential for damage to your gutters from the heavy ice load.
Clean Gutters Can Help Prevent Ice Dams
One way to keep gutters from filling up with the ice and snow that can contribute to ice dams and buildup is to make sure that your gutters are cleaned out before winter starts. Fall is a great time to call a qualified roofing company like Muth & Company for annual roof maintenance and gutter cleaning to prepare your home for winter. If you didn’t get around to your clearing out your gutters last fall, it’s even more important to watch out for accumulations of ice and heavy snow after big storms this winter so that you can spot ice dams before disaster strikes.
If you have clogged gutters and are concerned about ice damming, give Muth & Company a call at (614) 682-3060. As experts in gutter repair and insulation installation, we will get your home in shape to make it through the rest of the winter.