Are Icicles On Gutters Bad

This is a question that is often asked when you see them on your roof line.

Are icicles on gutters bad.

What causes icicles on gutters. It is inevitable you will always get icicles but the guard will protect the gutter cavity from filling and freezing by allowing the snow to melt and drip off taking away most of the burden from the gutter. However because most ice and snow cannot enter your gutters it will melt and dissipate more quickly. The gutters have filled with snow and water and the melt has to go somewhere assuming the gutters don t fall off which is over the side where it immediately freezes and becomes an icicle.

In some cases snow can clog gutters and whether the snow is melting because your roof is leaking air or because the air temperature rises above freezing then falls again quickly the result is icicles. But icicles have a dark side too and can actually pose a real danger to people pets and property. To prevent icicles from forming keep your gutters clear of leaves needles and other debris. After a big snowstorm the snow that remains on your roof because of the temperature and slope will start to slowly melt and then it refreeze into icicles.

The formation of ice on your roof and your gutter system is generally not good. As the sun shines onto your roof it will melt the snow and ice on the surface level first which means the icicles will disappear and the gutters will be free flowing immediately rather than after days or weeks of thawing and refreezing. Icicles form when your gutters are obstructed by debris which can cause water to back up and settle on your roof. Remember with accumulation in your gutters icicles will form without gutter guards installed but the formation of icicles on homes with gutter guards are not exempt from them either.

Where there are icicles on your roof there are often ice dams as well. What causes icicles on gutters. It s a ridge or dam of ice that builds up along the lower edge of the roof blocking snowmelt farther up from running harmlessly toward your gutters or the ground. Icicles are a common sight in the winter but despite their pretty appearance they can pose a threat to people pets and gutter systems.

What is an ice dam on a roof. This blog post by a gutter and roof replacement expert will help you understand why.