Winter can be tough on your home, especially on your gutters. If you live in an area with freezing temperatures and snow, it can be even worse. To prevent expensive problems or accidents, it’s important to learn how to care for and maintain your gutters during the winter.

What Happens to Your Gutters in Winter If you didn’t have your gutters cleaned in the fall after all the leaves have fallen, they will be clogged with debris. This means that water can’t flow through the gutters and downspouts and be carried away from your home as intended. The water trapped in your gutters during the winter can freeze, causing two major problems:

1. Water from your roof will flow over the top of the ice and not go into the gutters. This water can come from melting snow or rain, and it will overflow the gutters and fall down onto your house, landscaping, and possibly leak into your basement or crawl space. It will also probably freeze wherever it falls, creating a dangerously icy surface around your home.
2. The ice in your gutters will expand and cause problems. Just like water in an exposed metal pipe, frozen water in your gutters will expand and push apart seams and joints, causing leaks and damage later on. It can also cause your gutters to be pushed away from hangers, which could make the whole section fall off.

How to Prevent Ice Problems with Your Gutters The key to preventing ice problems with your gutters is to have them cleaned before winter weather and freezing temperatures settle into your area. This way, any water from melting snow or rain, can simply flow into the gutters and be carried away properly.

It’s very difficult to clear ice from gutters once the temperatures get below freezing, so it’s essential that if you have gutters and you live in an area like this, you have your gutters professionally cleaned and checked beforehand by contacting WeCleanGutter.com.

You can also take steps to reduce the accumulation of snow and ice on your roof with insulation, better ventilation, heating systems, and more. A professional roofer in your area will know the best solutions for your specific situation.