Winter is here and we’re already seeing significant snowfall. With that snowfall often comes the formation of ice dams on a roof. Although the ice dams also create beautiful icicles, they’re not good for your home. In fact, significant ice dam build-up can cause your gutters to sag, bend or pull away from your home. They also damage shingles leading to a roof leak as the snow and ice melt. In extreme cases, the weight may even lead to a partial roof collapse.
In addition to considering a rain gutter guard system with a heated gutter guard, you should also make sure you’re doing all you can to prevent ice dam formation with a roofing inspection.
Step 1 of Ice Dam Prevention: Proper Ventilation & Insulation
If you’ve recently had a roofing inspection, repair or new roof installed, your roofing company should have verified that your roof has proper ventilation and insulation. Both are key to ice dam prevention. If you haven’t and know that your home is prone to ice dams, it’s not too late to talk to your roofing company or insulation company about proper insulation. It may be too late to add ventilation, but your roofing company can let you know if that’s a contributing factor.
Step 2: Clean Gutters
Clean gutters allow snowmelt to flow freely down your gutters and out your downspouts. A clog anywhere in the system is the first step in the formation of an ice dam. If you don’t already have a rain gutter guard system on your home to prevent clogs, you should consider one to help prevent clogged gutters. When leaves and debris can’t get into your gutters, you’re less likely to have a clog that leads to the formation of an ice dam.
Step 3: A Heated Gutter Guard
Let’s assume you have proper insulation, ventilation and a quality gutter guard system already installed on your home – and you’re still dealing with ice dams. The next step in prevention is a heated gutter guard system. When you choose Gutter Helmet®, arguably the best rain gutter guard system on the market, you can also have your authorized installer add Helmet Heat®. Helmet Heat melts snow and ice so that it drains through the gutters like rainwater so you don’t have the significant build-up of ice and snow you would have otherwise.
It’s true you can use a snow rake to remove snow from your roof but that can also lead to costly repair. Homeowners often damage their shingles or gutters using this method. Sometimes the falling snow or ice leads to personal injury. Plus, the time it takes to remove the snow and then move it away from your home and off your sidewalk, driveway and walkway can be significant.
Let Your Local Gutter Helmet® Installer Help
Authorized Gutter Helmet installers understand proper attic insulation and ventilation. They can look at your roof and attic and either advise you on changes or make the changes for you in addition to installing new gutters. Keep your home and family safe from roof and gutter damage with the help of Gutter Helmet and Helmet Heat. Call (800) 824-3772 to be connected to your local installer for a free estimate.
