Nothing beats Colorado winters. With the Rocky Mountains right in our backyards, there are tons of winter activities for everyone to enjoy. From snowshoeing to skiing, there is plenty of fun to keep busy all winter long.
Although most locals love all of the things winter can bring, there is the threat of severe winter weather from October through April. Colorado ranks fourth among the snowiest states in the U.S., with an average of 56 inches of snow per calendar year. While fresh snowfall is a beautiful sight to see, winter weather and freezing temperatures often mean ice dams start to form on homes.
If you’re unfamiliar with ice dams, they’re 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. They’re a common issue for homeowners across the state of Colorado.
Ice dams pose many dangers and shouldn’t be on homes as they can cause injuries. You’ll want to protect your home from forming ice dams and causing costly damage, but how can you do that? Keep reading to learn how the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System outperforms other systems when it comes to helping prevent ice dams.
How do other systems prevent ice dams?
From traditional open-top gutters to gutter covers and screens, and other “complete” systems, there are plenty of gutter systems available on the market. However, not all work the same and some don’t protect your home from clogs and ice dams like K-Guard. Let’s examine some other systems and learn how they perform when it comes to helping prevent ice dams.
Open-top Gutters
Traditional, open-top, or half-round gutters offer no protection against ice dams. Because the gutter is completely exposed, the likelihood for ice dams to form is pretty high. When warm air from a home melts a thick layer of snow then that meltwater runs into the gutter and refreezes in a continuous cycle.
Some homeowners that have traditional open-top gutters or half-round gutters opt to install gutter heaters. Gutter heaters work by melting ice and snow to create a tunnel for meltwater to pass through the gutters and into the downspouts. In theory, gutter heaters sound great, but there are some drawbacks. The heater has to be placed in one location and only creates a thin tunnel; whatever water can’t drain through the tunnel is forced to overflow, potentially resulting in even worse ice dams.
Gutter Screens/Filters
Gutter screens are a piece of mesh with small openings that is installed on the top of an open-top or half-round gutter system. Gutter filters are similar to gutter screens but they have a component on the top of the screen that collects seeds. These components create shelves that can collect larger debris, resulting in a heavy gutter.
Both gutter screens and filters do nothing to help prevent ice dams. If there is debris that has clogged the screens and filters then they can impede water flow, causing overflows and ice dams. Gutter screens and filters create a shelf for ice dams to form and continually refreeze until the weather warms up.
Other “Complete” Systems
Some gutter installation companies in Colorado claim to offer a “complete” system, however, nothing compares to the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. These other “complete” systems still create a shelf for debris to collect, doing nothing to prevent ice dams.
How does K-Guard Help Prevent Ice Dams?
K-Guard helps prevent ice dams in a few different ways. For one, our curved hood allows meltwater and all other forms of precipitation to flow from the roof and into the gutter. The curved design of the hood enables snow to slide off the gutter system rather than acting as a shelf that can collect heavy snow. Next, our gutter system prevents clogs which means no impeding water flow or overflowing gutters that worsen ice dams.
Our gutter system 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 recommend adding insulation with a reputable company. If you’re interested in more information about ice damning we can cover it during our thorough free in-home estimate.
Snowfall and ice are two winter weather conditions that are inevitable here in the Colorado region and homeowners need to prepare as best they can. Installing the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System is the best thing you can do for your home to help prevent ice dams from forming.
K-Guard is the premiere gutter company in Colorado, providing a leaf-free gutter solution for homeowners for many years. We proudly install the K-Guard Gutter System across the state of Colorado including, but not limited to, the following locations: Denver, Colorado Springs, Littleton, Centennial, Aurora, Boulder, and Fort Collins. Schedule your free estimate today!
