A frozen gutter is one of a homeowner’s worst nightmares during the winter season. Aside from keeping snowmelt from safely flowing into the downspout, the expanding ice can cause the gutter seams to literally burst at the seams. As one of the top roofing contractors in the area, we’re here to tell you how to properly deal with frozen gutters and how to keep it from happening again.
Do Not Rush Things
Dealing with frozen gutters is a fairly straightforward, albeit slow process. You might be tempted to bust out a blowtorch or pour hot water down your gutters but aside from being dangerous, those options tend to give only short-term results. The best thing you can do with a frozen gutter is to wait until it thaws itself out.
Prevention via Heating
Just like with other roofing and gutter issues, keeping the gutter from freezing in the first place is much better than trying to get rid of solid ice. Roofers recommend using heating panels that run along the gutter pipes to keep the system warm and frost-free. Take note that this solution tends to use a lot of energy, so keeping your heater on 24/7 is not a good idea.
Less Freezing via More Maintenance
Regular maintenance is the key to lowering the chances of gutter freezing. By making sure your gutters are free of debris, you eliminate clog-causing elements that could trap water that will freeze when it gets cold enough. Installing gutter guards to help keep further debris from getting in is highly recommended.
Getting Help From the Pros
Taking a trial-and-error approach to keeping your gutters from freezing can be impractical (and expensive). According to roof repair experts, it’s much better to leave both gutter maintenance and gutter defrosting tasks to certified technicians that have the right skills and tools to get the job done.
Avoid frozen gutters with help from our team. Silver Leaf Contracting is the leading home improvement expert in the area. You can call us at (330) 313-0620 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.
