Are you ready for spring weather? Are you sad to see winter technically come to an end? Regardless of which side you’re on, we may not see consistent spring-like temperatures here in the Colorado region for a while. This means we could potentially have another few weeks of sleet, ice storms and snow.
This winter weather can cause costly damage to your home if you’re not prepared, resulting in the possibility of damaged gutters. One of the worst winter weather culprits that causes damage to your gutters is ice dams, and they’re still relatively common this time of year in the Colorado region.
Keep reading to learn all about ice dams, the damage they can cause and what you can do to prevent them.
What are Ice Dams?
Ice dams are thick pieces of ice that collect around the edges of sloped roofs. They form when heat produced from inside a house melts the accumulated snow on a roof. As a result, the meltwater has nowhere to drain so it’s constantly freezing, melting and refreezing, resulting in ice dams. This pattern is especially true this time of year when the daytime highs are higher than winter temperatures but the evenings can still be as low as freezing or even below.
How do these thick pieces of ice affect the rest of your gutter system? When accumulated snow starts to melt, that meltwater runs off into your gutters and roof slopes where it then freezes. When the meltwater freezes it makes it impossible for other melting ice and snow to drain properly, causing a bunch of issues for your gutter system.
Living in the Colorado region where weather is unpredictable and temperatures often fluctuate, especially in early spring, ice dams are a common issue. These fluctuating temperatures cause snow to melt and refreeze resulting in ice dams that form rapidly.
What Damage Can Ice Dams Cause?
If left alone all winter and through the start of spring, ice dams can cause extensive and costly damage to your home. Ice dams can cause a whole slew of issues like damaged shingles, leaking roofs, reduced effectiveness of your home’s insulation, possible mold, etc.
Not only can ice dams cause damage to your home, but they can cause damage to your health, too. Because ice dams can reduce the effectiveness of your home’s insulation, they can cause the temperature in your home to fluctuate, making your home cooler in the winter and spring months. They can also cause dampness in your home which can cause a collection of bacteria and mold to accumulate, causing respiratory issues.
Ice that forms because of ice dams can also pose a risk to your health. The ice can become dislodged, fall and cause serious injuries. Because ice dams can weigh quite a bit, they can cause serious injuries if they fall on someone.
What can I do if I have Ice Dams?
Ice dams are a nuisance but luckily, they can be removed by following a few steps. Follow the tips below to safely remove ice dams from your roof:
- Install a heated cable near roof edges or inside gutters
- Safely use a roof rake to remove accumulated snow and ice
- Use a safe ice melt product that won’t damage your roof such as calcium chloride
- Contact a professional
Because removing ice dams can be time consuming, tiring and damaging, you should do everything you can to prevent them from forming each year. Of course, the best thing you can do to remove ice dams is to contact a gutter company in the Colorado region like K-Guard Rocky Mountains.
What can I do to Prevent Ice Dams?
Preventing ice dams is the best thing you can do to protect your home and the safety of your loved ones. Luckily, there are some measures you can take to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof: checking your home’s insulation and installing a K-Guard Gutter System. Here’s how to do both:
Step One: Check Your Home’s Insulation
Having your home checked for air leaks and insulation issues can help prevent ice melt on your roof. Having excessive heat loss from your roof can also cause icicles to form. If you have icicles you may want to contact an insulation company.
Step Two: Install a K-Guard Gutter System
Installing a K-Guard Gutter System will help to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof. Our gutter systems can withstand all weather conditions, including snow and ice storms and will help prevent ice buildup on roofs. If there is excessive heat loss coming from improper insulation, we will recommend that it gets fixed as well. Our team of expertly trained professionals will install a K-Guard Gutter system that complements your home’s unique style.
To install a K-Guard Gutter System, contact K-Guard Rocky Mountains. Our team of experts will provide a free in-home estimate in a timely manner and will discuss the best option for your home. We offer a maintenance free, exclusion free warranty that is better than any gutter cover or add-on device.
Request a free in-home estimate online or call (303) 476-4323. We look forward to helping you to prevent ice dams and costly damage to your home with our gutter cover installation service.
