It’s cold in North Carolina, and while we aren’t known to get too much snow or ice in most of the state, you should still know how to handle your gutters during the winter. At Alamance Insulation and Gutters, we can help with all your gutter needs. We are a leader in the insulation and home performance industries centrally located in Burlington, North Carolina. We provide leading-edge products and services to customers throughout North Carolina – from Greensboro, Burlington, Elon, and Mebane to , Durham, and Raleigh. Let us help you with all your gutter needs!
The Cause of Ice Buildup on Gutters
Slow-running or clogged gutters cause ice buildup. The reason is simple. Have you ever left your tap running, just a bit, to keep the water in your pipes from freezing during unusually cold weather? We do this because it takes much lower temperatures to freeze running water than it takes to freeze standing water. Normally, water is running through your gutters and therefore very rarely freezes until it’s on the ground.
However, if your gutters are draining slowly, they are more likely to freeze. If there’s standing water in your gutters, as a result of a clog, that water will freeze as soon as temperatures drop below the freezing point.
Gutter Damage from Snow and Ice
Water expands when it freezes, so it can push open the seams of sectional gutters and create other cracks. Ice and snow are heavy, and excess weight from either can cause gutters to sag, gutter brackets to give in and the whole gutter system to collapse. Even a small change in the gutter’s slope can cause more drainage problems. Plus, sagging or iced-over gutters are unattractive and can harm your property value.
Gutter corners and connections are especially vulnerable to damage from snow and ice.
Do Gutters Cause Ice Dams?
It’s easy to see how gutters might cause an ice dam. After your clogged or slow-draining gutters freeze over, water can no longer drain properly off the roof. As a result, more and more water gathers on your rooftop, and it may freeze when it reaches the ice dam, making the problem worse.
However, most ice dams are caused by improper attic ventilation and insulation. Poorly draining gutters just exacerbate the issue.
If you have questions about cleaning your gutters, or if you’d rather let professionals handle this task, contact Alamance Insulation and Gutters. We are happy to help!