Do Gutter Guards Cause Ice Dams?

By Author: Gutter Empire Vancouver
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Rain and snow, hail and sleet. Your gutters handle them all. Without gutters, you’d run into some serious problems.

But can they handle ice dams?

High-quality gutters can withstand intense weather, but they’re sometimes prone to obstruction. In cold temperatures, the gutters might then freeze over and cause ice dams.

Gutter guard service may be the solution. The question is whether gutter guards may cause ice dams as well.

In this article, we’ll discuss if gutter guards can really protect your gutters.

What Causes Ice Dams?

Gutters are prone to obstruction. Without regular gutter maintenance, leaves and dirt may begin to build up inside them. This blocks them up, limiting or cutting off water flow.

Gutters in winter can then freeze over. Even though water and ice weigh the same, the water at least has a chance to filter out through the blockage. The ice stays there, putting weight on your gutters.

Gutters don’t exist only to redirect the water. They’re there to prevent water damage, in addition to other things. But ice ruins their effectiveness and proves hard ...
... to remove later on.

Over time, this ice can build up to a weight that your gutters cannot support. The result could be a catastrophic failure where your gutter detaches from the roof and walls. This presents a serious safety hazard to you and your family and may damage your home.

Using Gutter Guards to Prevent Ice Dams

Gutter guards serve as a filter so only water sits in your gutters. They keep out leaves, sediment, and living creatures. But do they potentially lead to ice dams? What tends to happen to gutters in winter is that the house heating melts the ice on the roof. This ice water trickles down into the gutters, where the cold temperatures freeze it again. This builds up over time, leading to that catastrophic failure.

The problem is, these gutter guards can cause the same blockages they’re trying to prevent. Rather than stopping the leaves from blocking up at a junction, they block them off at the source.

Can You Install Gutter Guards that Don’t Cause Blockages?

The short answer is yes.

Not all gutter guards are equal. Your roofers may have had little experience, or done the job as quickly as possible. They may have only installed gutter guards at a single point along the gutters, increasing the risk of a blockage.

There are a couple of options for gutter guards. You can install a single, long filter over the top of the gutters. This keeps any and all contaminants out, reducing the chance of ice dams.

Or, you can install a fine mesh filter. This keeps anything from the roof making it to the gutters in the first place. If ice dams form, they’ll melt off the room before leading to more serious problems.

Whatever the case, you need to get in contact with the experts. They’ll know how to solve your gutter problems no matter the case.

Prevent Ice Dams in Your Gutters

Gutter guards are a great way to reduce blockages and keep your gutters clear. However, they may lead to ice dams, which could exacerbate a simple blockage and lead to serious damage. Regular gutter maintenance is essential, and you can contact professionals to do it safely.

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