In regions with low winter temperatures, icing of the gutters – or just any sewer system – is not uncommon. And iced gutters can even break down and fall! And sewers can ice and make a real problem. In such a situation, it can even become impossible to use the sink in the toilet, bathroom, or kitchen. These problems require fast and reliable solutions. And the simplest one is to call gutter cleaning Dallas that will de-frost your gutters quick and simple. Besides that, you can do some other things that can help you out. So here’s our simple guide to de-icing your gutters!

What you should know before de-icing your gutters

If you live anywhere in the Dallas area, chances are that your house or building gets covered with snow. Snow then forms icicles and before you know it, your gutters (or sewers) are under the ice! This can cause a number of problems, and you can end up spending money on a problem that you haven’t even thought of in spring.

So before we get to de-icing your gutters, here are some reasons why your gutters and sewers may be under the ice:

• A piece of ice stuck in a pipe or gutter. With proper installation of gutter and sewer pipes, there is no water in them, therefore it cannot be frozen. If an ice block is formed in the system, it means that pipeline laying technology is interrupted.
• An insufficient inclination of the gutter. The cause is that the drains do not completely merge into the gutters and sewers but stop and freeze in the pipe. Another reason is that the diameter of the installed pipes is small and, the fluid moves slowly through thin channels and has time to freeze.
• Insufficient depth of pipe installation. External distribution of wastewater in a private home should take place at a depth below freezing. If we ignore this rule, in wintertime the water will come to the pipes and freeze.
• Breaks in the pipes and gutters. Small leaks cause the thin crust of ice to freeze on the walls of the drainage pipe. In this case, you don’t only have a problem with icing, but with fixing gutters as well. In this case, it would be best to call the professional roofing company that can help you both with icing and gutter replacement.

Wrong ways to de-ice gutters

There are some ways you should and some ways not to de-ice your gutters. Here’s what you shouldn’t do:

• do not break the ice with a hammer as you can destroy your gutters
• also, do not use ax or shovel to break the ice
• setting fire with a torch is also a bad idea

If your gutters are not completely under the ice

You can use calcium chloride and put it in the gutters if your pipes are not completely frozen. Do not use rock salt as this can corrode the gutter.

A universal way to heat gutters

Hot water with salt (again, not rock salt!) is an effective method of dealing with ice for all types of pipes and gutters. This method is based on heating the pipe with hot water directly or through a hose. In theory, you take a hose, fill it with hot water and put it on the iced gutter. Still, it may not be easy to reach the ice in your gutter. In that case, we strongly advise you not to try this on your own. It’s better to call professional Dallas roofer that will help you with this in more practical way.

This is because, you are very lucky if you have access to the gutter in an open, accessible place. And to warm it up, you need to think about the gutter material. Metal can be heated with a professional gas torch or fan. The plastic is more delicate, and you can heat it with a hairdryer.

If the ice block is in the underground section of the pipeline, then it is better to try to heat it by other methods. Frozen soil is strong enough and it will be difficult to heat it, plus if the system is plastic you can miss it and damage it when digging.

Buy special a chemical de-icing product

A product that contain urea fertilizer, ammonium sulfate, calcium magnesium acetate, or potassium chloride can help you in the daunting task of de-icing your gutters. You can buy them in any home improvement store. Just remember to read the instructions carefully and wear gloves. For all these products, it can take time to work, so be patient.

The trick with old stockings or pantyhose

You can fill old stockings or pantyhose with calcium chloride or other de-icing product and place it in the gutter. Once this leaks out, the ice will slowly start melting. Again, be patient and know that you may need to move these “de-icing bombs” from place to place to de-frost everything.

Using the heated cable

You can heat up the gutter with electricity. And you can do it with special heat cables. It will heat up your gutter for several hours and then you pour the additional hot water in it. Again, it’s best not to do this on your own.

Think in advance

If you regularly clean and service your gutters, ice should not suppose to be a problem. In the end, we know that gutters covered with ice can cost you money, time and nerves. When you think about it, they can even cause real damage – by simply falling under the ice pressure. So it’s best to think in advance and get good quality gutters… or good quality roofing service that will help you in these stressful situations.