Living in Kansas City means we experience all four seasons, including winter. Though it’s shorter than other parts of the country thanks to the earth’s tilt, below-freezing temperatures, ice storms, and snowstorms are common here in KC. It’s tough to think about winter considering we just entered fall, but it’ll be here in a couple of months, bringing frigid temperatures and occasional frozen precipitation.
Winter weather makes driving on roads and walking on sidewalks dangerous, and it takes its toll on the exterior of our homes. Think of everything our home siding, roof, and landscaping go through during winter. Another home component that winter wreaks havoc on? Our gutter systems. They’re constantly exposed to the elements and responsible for collecting, carrying, and dispersing winter precipitation like snowmelt, ice melt, and freezing rain away from the home.
Some gutter systems develop ice dams during winter, a danger to your gutter system, home, and loved ones. Keep reading to learn about the science behind ice dam formation and how to counter it with K-Guard.
What’s an Ice Dam?
Odds are, you’ve seen an ice dam, thinking it was just an icicle hanging from a gutter system. Though some can appear to be icicles, ice dams are thick pieces of ice that form around the edges of sloped roofs when heat from inside a house melts snow accumulated on the roof. Eventually, ice dams get caught in a neverending cycle where they get larger each day until they cause extensive damage to a home or until professionally removed.
Because our weather here in KC can be above-average temperatures one day and below-freezing the next, ice dams are a common occurrence. Though they can happen to any home with a traditional gutter system and poor home insulation and ventilation, there are some things that aid in their formation.
What Causes Ice Dams?
Ice dams don’t just magically appear around a sloped roof. There’s quite a science behind the causes of ice dams and how they remain until they’re removed or cause extensive damage to a home. We already learned that ice dams form when heat from inside a home escapes the attic, melting the snow or ice on the roof and inside the gutters. This snowmelt/icemelt will refreeze as the overnight lows hover around or below freezing, then will melt again when daytime temps are above freezing. Then the vicious cycle will continue, day in and day out, until they’re either removed from the roofline or until they cause damage that forces the gutter system to sag and tear away from the home.
Let’s take a quick science lesson: imagine we just had a snowstorm that dumped a few inches of snow overnight, waking up to a blanket of snow covering our yards and roofs. If the temperature is above 32°F, snow and ice will melt and then refreeze when the temperature drops below 32°F. Let’s say the daytime temperature the day after the snowstorm is 40°F – approximately one inch of snow would melt. However, let’s say the evening and overnight temperatures hover around 25°F-30°F. The icemelt that made its way inside of the gutter would quickly refreeze.
This constant melting and refreezing of snow and ice during the winter months leads to those large, thick pieces of ice, AKA ice dams. They put excess weight on a traditional gutter system, causing them to sag and tear away from the home. Half-round gutters, older gutter systems, or gutter systems with previous damage are prone to significant damage. Ice dams are also dangerous for us; they can break off and land on a loved one causing injuries.
Ice Dam Solutions
So, what can be done about these pesky ice dams? If you have traditional half-round gutters, make sure you give them a deep clean multiple times a year to ensure they’re clean and free of debris. Leaves and pine needles can clog the gutter, forcing meltwater to remain inside the gutters and form even bigger ice dams.
If you do have ice dams forming on your roof, contact a professional snow removal service to safely and gently remove the ice dam to prevent future damage to your gutters and roof. You can purchase heat cables or heat tape for gutters that can help melt snow, but if it keeps refreezing it’s only a temporary solution that could increase your energy bills.
You should also contact a home insulation company to check your home’s attic insulation and ventilation. They can check for air leaks and insulation issues to determine if you need to replace your insulation or seal leaks that could be aiding in the formation of ice dams.
The best thing you can do to prevent ice dams is to install the K-Guard System. K-Guard has a curved hood that keeps debris out and prevents snow from accumulating on top of the gutter, helping prevent ice dams from forming. They never need maintenance like cleaning and they’ll withstand any weather event from frigid, snowy winters to severe summer storms.
Install K-Guard Gutters to Protect Your Home from Ice Dams
Contact K-Guard Heartland to install the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System to protect your home from ice dams this upcoming winter. Why choose K-Guard? Our gutter guards save you money and give you peace of mind, protecting your home from water damage and drainage issues caused by extreme weather conditions.
Our installation process is simple with three easy steps to get lifetime gutters. Contact K-Guard Heartland today for a free estimate, a detailed analysis of your current gutter system, and estimated costs for installing K-Guard on your home.
