How to Keep Gutters From Freezing
They’re easy to forget, but your gutters are an integral part of your home’s exterior. And if your gutters fill up with water and it freezes, which is something that can happen during winter, a whole host of problems could be in your immediate future.
Below, we discuss five methods you can use to keep your gutters from freezing when the temperatures drop.
1. Remove Snow and Moisture
Has it snowed or hailed recently? Then you need to make sure your gutters are free of snow. If you don’t remove it in time, it’ll solidify or turn to water—which will eventually freeze.
You should use a roof rake to get the snow off your roof, and don’t forget to clear it from the gutters.
Just make sure you’re careful when removing the snow, as improper snow removal techniques could cause you to damage your roof, leading to leaks and a bunch of other issues that’ll require immediate, expensive repairs.
2. Make Sure Your Gutters Are Aligned and Sloped
If it hasn’t snowed or rained recently, you should check your gutters to make sure they’re properly aligned and sloped. If your gutters are flat, water will collect in them and eventually freeze if the temperature gets low enough.
Water can also pool as a result of misaligned gutters.
Pour some water in your gutters to test their water-removal capability. And while you’re checking the gutters, make sure your downspouts are free of blockage and properly directing water away from your home’s foundation.
3. Keep the Gutters Clean
Your gutters should be free of debris and generally clean so they work properly.
If it’s been windy recently, check them to see if they’re full of leaves, sticks, and other things that can blow off trees.
It may also be the case that a bird or small rodent has made a nest in your gutters. If you don’t want to deal with this problem on your own, you should get a professional to safely remove the nest.
With grime and debris removed from your gutters before it rains, the rainwater will be able to drain before it has a chance to freeze.
4. Consider Heated Gutter Cables
Heated gutter cables can solve your frozen gutter problem if you’re willing to spend the money to install and maintain them. These cables will be stringed along the top of your gutters and they’ll provide heat to melt the ice.
Even with these present, however, you still need to make sure the gutters can properly remove water.
5. Add Sodium Chloride
You could also sprinkle some salt or Ice Melt in your gutters. Just make sure—if you’re going the Ice Melt route—that it’s safe for your gutters; some ice-melters can wear down the material gutters are made of over time.
Lane’s Contracting Will Maintain Your Roof & Gutters for a Fair Price
At Lane’s Contracting Inc., we’ve been repairing, replacing, maintaining, installing, and inspecting roofs for close to two decades, and we’re the roofing company to contact if you’re having gutter or roof-related issues.
Call us at (984) 355-9692 or visit us online to know more about the affordable, expert services we’re currently offering.
