'Tis the season to remember your gutters

It might be the most wonderful time of the year for most of us, but the winter wonderland isn’t all jingle bells and reindeer games for your gutters.  In fact, snow and ice could very well spell disaster for the drainage system that keeps your paint looking fresh and your foundation intact. 

Let’s take a look at some of the ways winter weather can damage your gutters and what you can do to make sure a minor inconvenience doesn’t become major damage.

Clogged gutters are even more serious

You are likely already aware of the importance of keeping your gutters clean during the warmer parts of the year, but many people overlook the fact that the perils associated with clogged gutters are only exacerbated by the winter cold. 

Snow that might normally slough off of your gutters can accumulate on loose twigs and leaves and eventually freeze into solid ice.  What might have been a partial clog before is now a complete blockage, meaning that sleet and rain can’t drain properly and will inevitably spill over and pool at your foundation. 

What’s more is that gutters clogged by ice are significantly more difficult to unblock, meaning that what would otherwise be a fairly straightforward gutter cleaning job has now become a significantly more arduous task.  Make sure that your gutters are clear from plant debris before that first big snow hits.

Ice dams are enormously destructive to gutters

An ice dam forms when water freezes around rooftop detritus or eaves, creating a wall of ice through which water is unable to pass. These ice dams are especially dangerous for your gutters as they present the double threat of both restricting the flow of water and putting weight stress on them. 

The presence of an ice dam in or around your gutters means that as snow melts or rain falls, it will pour right over the edge of the gutter and onto your foundation.  This water will seep into the ground and has the potential to flood your basement, or to freeze and cause foundation damage.

Icicles are beautiful but serious

The telltale sign of an ice dam is the presence of icicles.  They might look beautiful, but the unfortunate truth is that they could be causing serious damage to your gutters, which may need extensive repairs or replacement.  If you see icicles hanging from your gutters, you should knock them off as soon as possible.

As snow melts around an ice dam, it can actually accumulate behind your gutters, against the exterior of your house.  Water expands as it freezes, and if the issue becomes severe enough, this expansion will dislodge your gutters from the side of your house and from the roof.  This dislodging, along with the added weight of ice and snow, has the potential to completely warp and bend your gutters in such a way that they may need to be replaced.

If you suspect you may have ice dams on your roof or in your gutters, your best course of action is to call a gutter specialist to take care of the problem for you.

Snow is heavy

Ice dams aren’t the only force of nature that destroy your gutters in the wintertime.  An accumulation of snow in your gutters can be just as damaging.  Though different types of snow have different weight, all of them have the potential to break your gutters beyond repair.  If you notice that snow has piled up within your gutters, it might be time to call a professional to assist you.

Winter weather can be hard on your gutters.  Luckily DanDan the Gutter Man is here to lend a hand.  If you’ve been experiencing any wintertime gutter issues, we’ve got you covered, so don’t hesitate to give us a call!