Spring Is Here…Now What?

We have had a long, cold, snowy winter, but hopefully that is all behind us and we can look forward to spending some time outside and enjoying the spring weather. Now is also the time to get outside and inspect the havoc that was wreaked on your home during the snowy, icy winter.

We nearly set a record in Metro Detroit this season, receiving over 76 inches of snow this winter (while our average is only 44 inches!) Grand Rapids, Michigan also experienced a much snowier winter than usual, receiving over 101 inches of snow this season (while their average snow fall is around 60 inches). Given the crazy amount of snow this year, it makes sense that our homes may need a little more exterior upkeep this spring – as snow and ice are hard on roofs and gutters.

Many home inspection experts will encourage you to get outside and check for any loose or hanging gutters. We had an extensive amount of calls this winter for ice & snow dam issues, which could very possibly have resulted in damage to gutters and downspouts. It is very important to get those issues fixed as soon as possible. When the “April Showers” arrive, you want your home to have proper water management, keeping water away from your home’s foundation and protecting your landscaping.

What’s The Deal With Ice In My Gutter System?

Have you seen the pictures on the news of fountains that have frozen mid-flow? How about Niagara Falls freezing over?

Are you wondering how your gutters or downspouts can be frozen? Think about it this way. If something that is draining straight down can freeze (i.e. Niagara Falls), can you see how water can freeze in your gutters and downspouts? It is the same concept.

“But there’s not any ice on my roof!” Even if there does not appear to be any ice on your roof, there can still be ice in your gutters and downspouts. If you feel like your downspouts are not draining correctly, a good way to tell if there is ice in your downspout is by tapping on the downspout and listening to hear if it sounds like it is solid or if it has a hollow sound.

Thanks to the Polar Vortex and the sub-zero temperatures, we receive many calls about gutters overflowing. The reason for this appearance of overflow is because even if you can’t see it, there is a good chance your gutters are filled with ice.  Anything that comes on top of your ice-filled gutters would appear to be overflowing, but really there is just not any more room in your already-full gutters. It would be similar to having a full cup of coffee and then trying to pour more into it. There isn’t any room for the new coffee, so the cup would overflow.

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done about the frozen gutters & downspouts until the temperatures rise, and we have a good, old-fashioned thaw. At this point, your gutters and downspouts should start draining properly, and the melted ice (water) should flow out of your downspouts per usual. If, after a thaw, your gutters & downspouts are still not draining properly, then it would be time to have your gutters & downspouts inspected and cleaned out of any non-ice related debris (i.e. – leaves, twigs, miscellaneous debris that was not cleaned out in the fall before the snow and ice).

We hope that this information lends more insight into what is really going on in your gutters during the winter. Stay warm!

Are Icicles An Indication Of Improper Pitch On Your Gutters?

It looked like it was going to be a mild Michigan winter this year, but in the last couple of weeks Winter has unleashed her fury… And where there is melting snow on roofs, there are icicles. But do your icicles indicate a problem?

Frozen Waterfall

Icicles on a Home

As you can see from the above picture, moving water freezes whether it is falling from a steep waterfall or a steep fall off the gutters of a home. Many people worry that the presence of icicles hanging on their gutters indicate a problem with the pitch of their installed gutters. This is most likely NOT the case.

So what does cause icicles on your home?
Experts say they are a byproduct of an “ice dam,” a buildup of ice on the roof along the part of the roof that extends beyond the exterior wall or the eaves. The buildup is a result of energy loss from inside the house. Not only does this loss of heat have a high monetary cost, but It also can lead to problems like rotted roofs and rafters, ruined insulation, moisture inside the walls, mold, peeling paint and even physical injury from falling icicles.

When the snow on the roof melts from the loss of heat off the roof, it runs down to the eaves. When the outdoor temperatures are cold enough to freeze, the eaves are also frozen since they extend beyond the warmth of your house. The melted snow freezes when it reaches the eaves and your gutters. Eventually, enough melted snow (that has now frozen) fills the gutters. When melting snow runs over the filled frozen gutters, icicles are the result.

How can you prevent icicles?
It’s simple! Fix the problem that is letting heat get out of your home by way of your roof. Insulate or re-insulate your attic.

In the mean time, have the snow that will eventually melt removed. We can help with our Roof Raking service.

“My Old Gutters Never Filled With Ice”

We field calls like this on a regular basis during the winter months.  Ice dams are one of those “inconvenient truths” that we as Michiganders have to deal with each winter.

Ice dams are created when ice and snow begin to melt off of the roof due to the home losing heat through the attic and through the shingles.  As the water then flows down the roof, it reaches the gutters which are much colder than the shingles, and re-freezes.

When water re-freezes, it can do a number of things:
1.   It can pour over the front of the gutter, creating large and sometimes dangerous icicles. 
2.   It can work its way between the gutters and fascia, giving the appearance of a leak. 
3.   It can travel up the roof line and, unfortunately, even underneath the shingles.

All of these problems, albeit frustrating, are normal.  Ice dams occur on homes regardless of the pitch, condition, or workmanship of gutters. A couple of possible solutions to this problem are:
1.   Additional insulation to slow the heat loss through the roof.  This will save you money on your heating costs and could potentially improve your ice dam situation. 
2.   Another solution is hiring someone to remove the ice and snow from your roof and apply CaCl to the gutters and roof edges.

The folks who call stating, “My old gutters never filled with ice” are mistaken.  Either they never paid attention to the condition of their old gutters, or the old ones were magical. This would be like buying a new car, and after the first snow you call Ford Motor Company and tell them that you’re tired of using your snow scraper and you want them to do something about it, because your old car never got covered with ice and snow. (Maybe they actually field calls like this!)

Of course I’m being facetious but ice dams are difficult to impossible to avoid in Michigan winters.  Be patient, wait for a thaw, and your ice problem will go away.  I know, these Michigan winters sure feel long, but they always end.