How to Keep Gutters from Freezing in Winter
Your gutters are an essential part of your home. They protect the foundation of your home, and without proper care, they can easily allow room for damage. Freezing temperatures also mean that standing water in your gutters could quickly turn solid with repeated exposure to below-freezing temps throughout the day. As ice builds up within your gutters, a lot of damage can happen due to too much weight. Iron Horse Gutter Works wants to keep you and your home in Syracuse safe by giving you four tips to keep your gutters from freezing in the winter. Keep reading to learn more.
Gutter Guards
Installing gutter guards will prevent the formation of gutter clogs. This can also prevent your gutters from freezing with all of the debris solidifying in them. The most effective type of gutter guard will keep leaves and other debris away from falling into your gutters, while draining runoff quickly out the end of each section of gutter line with no pooling or backflow in any part of your rooftop drainage system. Iron Horse Gutter Works offers two durable and affordable gutter guards for you to choose from, the LeafLock gutter guard and Valor gutter guard, which we would be glad to install for you.
Have Your Gutters Cleaned
Routinely cleaning your gutters is a great way to ensure nothing is clogging them. With clogged gutters, the debris will build up and cause the water to pool and freeze. This can lead to expensive gutter repairs or a whole gutter replacement. Additionally, if you have a long-term fall/winter maintenance plan for your gutters and downspouts, it can help prevent other problems from occurring. If the gutter system is not properly maintained during the winter months, water damage to your foundation could occur as well as any ice dams that form on top of roofs or around chimneys will increase in size. Having your gutters cleaned by the experts at Iron Horse Gutter Works will ensure that you won’t end up with frozen gutters.
Apply De-icers
By applying de-icers to your gutters, such as magnesium chloride, you will be able to prevent the water from freezing. This de-icer is also non-toxic and won’t be harmful to your pets or landscaping. Many de-icers that contain a high quantity of salt are unsafe to use, as it can be toxic to animals and the environment. De-icers can be applied to the roof of your home, as well as any other areas that are prone to freezing. In most cases, this is enough for you not to have any issues with frozen gutters during the winter months.
Remove the Snow from Your Roof
By removing the snow from your roof, you will be able to keep it from freezing over. When snow lands on your roof and becomes compact, it can block your gutters. In order to prevent this, you can rake off as much snow as you can as it falls. This will reduce the burden on your roof, while also keeping your gutters clear. If you have a particularly heavy snowfall, you can use a hose to melt the snow on your roof. This will help ensure that the water flows freely through your gutters and away from your home. Additionally, make sure to keep your downspouts clear so that the water has a direct path to discharge.
Gutter Guards Protect Your Home
While free-flowing water may not be an issue in warmer months, frozen and clogged gutter systems will cause problems during colder weather conditions because the ice cannot properly flow down into our home's foundation without obstruction. If you’re looking to keep your gutters from freezing in winter, contact Iron Horse Gutter Works today for gutter installation and cleaning services.
