Winters may be mild in our area, but that doesn’t mean the outdoor air can’t get frigid, especially at night. You’ll be surprised to find that stagnant water lying around your yard has frozen, and while it is not much of a concern, it can be bad if it happens to your downspout. It is an indication that something is wrong with the gutter system.
In today’s blog, Gutter Helmet Systems of Alabama, your local source of gutter shield products, shares tips on what to do when dealing with frozen downspouts.
How Downspouts Freeze
It seems counterintuitive when downspouts freeze but rain doesn’t fall directly into them. However, freezing can occur if the end of the downspout is blocked by precipitation or debris, or debris is blocking water flow inside the pipes. Downspouts have several elbows, which means stagnant water inside can be susceptible to freezing upon exposure to colder temperatures.
Fixing Frozen Downspouts
A common fix to this problem involves waiting for the frozen downspouts to melt. This makes sense if temperatures remain above zero for a few days, which is enough to completely melt the ice. Removing the debris blocking the end of the downspout is also a viable fix. Thawing the downspouts, however, can be done if the aforementioned fixes don’t work. Running hot water on the opening or sides of the downspout may help melt the ice.
Preventing Frozen Downspouts
Of course, prevention is much better than having to keep up with fixes. Cleaning the gutters regularly helps prevent water from collecting inside the gutters and downspouts. You don’t want ice to spread to your gutters and cause more problems that lead to repairs or total replacement for damaged sections. If you want to minimize the need for gutter cleaning, consider investing in a gutter protection system.
At Gutter Helmet Systems of Alabama, we take pride in installing gutter shield products. These protect your gutters against unwanted clogs and overflows, as well as frozen downspouts. Learn more by calling (866) 598-7525 or filling out our contact form. We serve homeowners in and around Chelsea, Alabama.
