If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter it can provide a foundation for an ice dam.
Gutter to roof ice.
The heat causes the snow to melt until it reaches the gutters which are much colder than the rest of the roof.
If the eave is between 12 and 24 inches deep multiply the roof line measurement by 5 3.
Upgrade your insulation to prevent the warm air in your home from escaping through the roof partially melting snow on the roof and creating an ice dam in your gutters.
Don t go out there with a hammer and try to chisel the ice out.
Measure the length of your roof line.
The flatter the pitch of the roof the easier it is for an ice dam to get a grip.
You should have a roofing professional check your roof insulation during the fall.
As long as the water isn t leaking into your home the underlayment in your roof is doing it s good and there s no real reason to panic.
If you are dealing with frozen ice gutters the first thing you should do is have patience.
You can do a lot of damage to your gutters this way.
This phenomenon is called an ice dam and according to the university of minnesota the water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas.
If you must do something.
Measure the depth of the eave overhang from the edge of the roof not the gutter straight back to the outside wall.
And this is where the confusion.
Gutters have a tendency to collect leaves and other debris and that makes gutter guards an important part of your roof s drainage system.
One side effect of installing gutter guards on your horizontal runs is they can help to generate ice sickles and dams as water freezes during the winter.
Mount gutters and leaders securely to the building using hangers at 16 on center.
If the eave overhang is 12 inches deep multiply the roof line measurement determined in step 1 by 4.
Ice dams are created on gutters when the hot air from inside your home rises through the roof.
This happens when ice backs up in your gutters and onto your roof causing water to back up behind the ice.
Eaves are notoriously cold and unheated.
There the water freezes gradually growing into a mound of ice.
In fact once your gutters are frozen solid the best thing to do is nothing and just wait for a thaw.