The Dangers of Ice Dams

Most homes have gutters, and most homeowners generally trust that their gutters will do the job they were designed to do. They may clean their gutters out a few times a year, scraping out the pine straw and leaves that build up to allow the water to flow freely, but that is usually the extent of their maintenance.

During the cold Colorado winters, it is especially important to make sure the gutters are cleaned out. This isn’t just because so many leaves fall during autumn and early winter, but also because of the freezing temperatures that seem to sneak in overnight.

When the water can’t run freely off the roof and down the drainpipes because of leaves and other debris clogging the gutters, it may freeze and get stuck, weighing down the gutters and causing damage.

Over time, if a buildup of snow and ice is stuck in the gutters by collected debris, the weight may be too much for the gutters to handle. This can sometimes result in the gutters being pulled from the roof.

​More commonly, they simply bend or crack in between two connection points, and a portion of the gutter must be replaced. However, far more dangerous to your home than a gutter splitting in two is the danger of ice dams.

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