Gutter To Roof Ice

The snowmelt freezes on the overhang creating an ice dam and then the melted water backs up into the warmer roof area doesn t freeze and seeps into your home.

Gutter to roof ice.

And this is where the confusion. Measure the depth of the eave overhang from the edge of the roof not the gutter straight back to the outside wall. Ice dams are created on gutters when the hot air from inside your home rises through the roof. One side effect of installing gutter guards on your horizontal runs is they can help to generate ice sickles and dams as water freezes during the winter.

This happens when ice backs up in your gutters and onto your roof causing water to back up behind the ice. In areas of moderate snow and ice loads on roofs mounting the gutter so that its outer edge is at or below a straight line projected from the roof slope outwards can prevent snow or ice from pushing the gutters off of the building. Don t go out there with a hammer and try to chisel the ice out. Gutters at the eaves can also trap snow and ice.

There the water freezes gradually growing into a mound of ice. The heat causes the snow to melt until it reaches the gutters which are much colder than the rest of the roof. Gutters have a tendency to collect leaves and other debris and that makes gutter guards an important part of your roof s drainage system. Mount gutters and leaders securely to the building using hangers at 16 on center.

Measure the length of your roof line. Eaves are notoriously cold and unheated. The flatter the pitch of the roof the easier it is for an ice dam to get a grip. You can do a lot of damage to your gutters this way.

In fact once your gutters are frozen solid the best thing to do is nothing and just wait for a thaw. If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter it can provide a foundation for an ice dam. You should have a roofing professional check your roof insulation during the fall. As long as the water isn t leaking into your home the underlayment in your roof is doing it s good and there s no real reason to panic.

If the eave is between 12 and 24 inches deep multiply the roof line measurement by 5 3. Upgrade your insulation to prevent the warm air in your home from escaping through the roof partially melting snow on the roof and creating an ice dam in your gutters. If you are dealing with frozen ice gutters the first thing you should do is have patience.