Why Does Ice Freeze in Gutters?

!±8± Why Does Ice Freeze in Gutters?

Ice build up in gutters can be caused by drainpipe blockages. Frequent build up of ice can be a nuisance for homeowners because once a gutter or pipe gets blocked it makes it difficult to thaw the ice and the gutters overflow subsequently damaging the roof and making dangerous ice patches on the ground. The first step towards a solution is to understand how the ice freezes or builds up.

Poor Attic Insulation

Actually, gutters have no role in gutter ice build up. The bottom layer of the snow on the roof melts because of the heat escaping the roof of the house and this melted snow trickles to the edge of the roof. As it reaches the gutter, it freezes into ice for it is no longer warmed by the escaping heat. Eventually large amount of ice builds up in and around the gutter and if one repeatedly thaws the ice and it freezes again and again, icicles would appear on the edges of the gutter.

Blocked Drainpipe

If any pipe running from the gutter to the ground gets blocked by ice will make problems worse for if the water moves fluently from the roof to the gutter and to and through the drain pipe, no blockade would occur but if in winters, the water freezes and the blocks the grain pipes, the water will stop moving and no water will be able to pass through.

Improperly Place Gutters

The gutters should be placed at a slight tilt and not in any case be placed at right angles for gutters placed at such angle would definitely cause more problems by being blocked rather than resolving them. If the gutter is not tilted and is flat, the water will still remain in it and will freeze because of staying still at a place in winters and such a frozen gutter would be the beginning of an ice dam. And the problem might turn worse if the ice dam causes the gutter to shift so that its flow turns much worse than before. A tilted gutter would not lead to such problems for in such tilted gutters the water is bound to keep moving downwards.

Snow on the Roof

The amount of snow on the roof will affect the build up of ice as well. The more the snow on roof, the worse the ice will build up if too much heat escapes the roof. Large amounts of snow will result in more potential water and ice and it will trap the heat of the top and the bottom of the snow, accelerating the melting process. And if such happens then it means more work has to be done on the roof to stop ice building up.