Gutter Guards And Ice Dams

Gutter guard ice dams people get really really angry when the gutter guard they install suddenly creates icicles when they never had them before.

Gutter guards and ice dams.

Ice dam solution can be used in conjunction with gutter topper hott topper the leaf terminator the needle guard and the solution series product preventing damage due to heavy ice and snow buildup. It s not that gutters and or gutter guards cause ice dams. 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. Why do gutter guards have problems with ice dams and icicles.

There are features that can be found on these products that actually protect against ice build up. Gutter guards will prevent debris from getting in your gutters which can alleviate ice dams but they still often freeze during the year s coldest months. There is no way for the homeowner to know if icicles will be small or quite large too many variables are at play every time it snows. This allows the thick heavy ridges of ice along your roof s eaves to form.

Icicles and ice dams are more a function of roof insulation and ventilation. They don t as i ve written. Gutters just allow the ice to crawl a bit further past the edge of your roof overhang. In essence they extend the area of your overhang.

Heated gutters guards are the best choice as they melt any ice or snow immediately and never allow the ice dam to form. Unfortunately these gutter guards aren t always the most durable or structurally sound. Traditional gutter guards are typically installed to your roof and attached to your existing gutter system. The more feet of overhang on your roof the greater the potential for big ice dams forming.

Ice dam solution is composed of 100 solid aluminum panel formed into 4 foot lengths by 4 3 4 inches wide with a specially designed channel that contains a 120 volt self regulating heat cable. Gutters don t work quite the same in the winter. Not only do they work well but they eliminate constant damage from ice and snow. They are higher in cost than conventional gutter covers but are the first choice in areas where ice and snow are a way of life.

The first response by worried homeowners is to call the gutter guard installation company and ask why this is happening. No gutter whether protected by a gutter guard or not is immune to icicles forming or conditions existing related to ice dams. However in some cases gutter guards can actually be the cause of the ice damn in your gutters. It is a common experience for customers in northern climates to experience ice dams and severe icicle formation after installing gutter guards or gutter screens.