Common Issues Gutters Face During the Winter

Maintaining your gutters is important to keeping your roof and entire home in good condition. Gutters face a lot of wear and tear throughout the year, but winter is an incredibly harsh time. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are a recipe for disaster if you don’t know what to look out for. 

Protect your gutters by watching for these common issues and correcting them at the first sign of trouble. 

Ice Dams

Ice dams are a common problem that can cause significant issues for your roof and gutter system. An ice dam forms when snow and ice on your roof melt unevenly, then refreeze at the roof’s edge, connecting to your gutter system. Ice dams can result from something as simple as a clogged gutter causing water to back up or a sign of a bigger problem with your roof. Improper roof ventilation and insulation is one of the most common causes of ice dams.

If you notice an ice dam forming near the edge of your roof, contact a roofing or gutter contractor immediately to assess the situation properly and make necessary repairs to prevent further ice dam formation. 

Snow Damage

Unlike rainwater, which flows easily down the gutter system, snow is too solid to do the same. This causes snow to build up on your roof and in your gutters. One thing to remember about snow—it’s heavy! It doesn’t take much snow to put a serious strain on your gutters. This can cause the gutters to sag or pull away from the roof, making them less effective at properly draining water away from your home. 

Hanging Icicles

Icicles hanging from gutters aren’t an uncommon sight, but they’re not something you should overlook either. Icicles can form on the side of your gutters when water is melting but not properly going down the gutter system. Icicles are heavy, which can cause damage to your gutters, similar to snow. Icicles can also fall from your gutters unexpectedly, which can result in a serious injury. 

Preventing Winter Gutter Issues

Properly maintaining your gutters throughout the year is the best way to prevent winter gutter issues. That means regular cleanings, repairs as needed, and a complete gutter inspection annually. Save yourself a lot of time and effort by leaving these maintenance tasks to the professionals!

Contact The Gutter Queen to schedule a consultation to discuss your winter gutter concerns or schedule your next gutter cleaning and inspection. If the inspection results in any findings, we can provide a detailed quote and outline a plan to correct those issues. We’ll climb the ladder and do the hard work so you can spend more time enjoying your home, inside and out!