When you are living in an area with cold, snowy winters, you can expect ice in your gutters, for sure. It appears as a result of the warm attic, warm enough to melt a bottom layer of snow. When the water gets to your gutters it freezes at a low temperature. The best way to de-ice your gutters is to hire professional help. If you are set on doing it yourself, there are a couple of things you need to know first.
Avoid using these tools to de-ice your gutters
The most important thing to know is that you shouldn’t use tools like hammer, axe or shovel to break the ice. If you thought that this will work, then think again. This is not a safe way to de-ice your gutters. Using a hammer might damage your gutters, it can dent them or even break them. Thick ice is hard to break and you will probably cause damage during this process.
The axe is another “don’t” for breaking the ice. It will cause the same type of damage as a hammer.
Instead of breaking the ice, many of you will try to melt it.
Melting as a way to de-ice your gutters
It is easier to melt down ice instead of breaking it. But, you need to be extra careful when you do this. Professional gutter company Dallas has the necessary equipment and expertise to achieve this. You can’t just use a blowtorch to melt ice. It is a fire hazard and you could cause a fire.
The safest way to de-ice your gutters, on your own, is to use hot water. It can work only in case your gutters aren’t completely frozen. If you see a large block of ice, this method won’t be effective. Another requirement for using the hot water method is to actually have a source of hot water to tap into. Ice melting can take a while, so don’t expect a result without a constant flow of hot water. Sure, you can try to melt ice by pouring buckets of hot water, but it is not guaranteed that it will work. Also, it will take too much time. And if it is still below zero outside, it will be very hard to succeed. Some gutter cleaning Dallas companies have equipment that uses hot water or steam and they are an efficient way to de-ice your gutters.
Another method you can use is to use calcium chloride.
De-ice your gutters by using calcium chloride and not rock salt
Once again, this is a solution only for partially iced gutters. Take calcium chloride and sprinkle it inside your gutters. Also, sprinkle it on the edge of shingles as a way to minimize the forming of ice dams. Remember that you must use calcium chloride and not rock salt.
Rock salt or sodium chloride is a sure way to damage your gutters. Salt will eventually eat a protective coat of your gutters. Then gutters will start to corrode and you will have to replace your gutters in the end.
Prevention is the best solution
We have mentioned some dos and don’ts for de-icing your gutters. You should also know how to prevent gutters from icing. The famous saying that goes, better to be safe than sorry is also useful in this case. If it is too late for this winter, you can try it for next year as well.
First, you have to make sure that your attic is properly insulated and check if there aren’t any damages in insulation. Do this yourself or hire a professional contractor to do this for you. Either way, it will be a very helpful way to prevent icing on a roof and gutters.
Removing snow from your roof is one more step in icing prevention. Remove snow, as soon as possible, don’t wait for it to melt and freeze again.
Heat cables are a mean of prevention and a way to de-ice your gutters
Buy heat cables or tapes and install them around the key areas of your gutters. When you are applying a heat tape, you need to be careful not to overlap it. If you wrap heat tape over itself it can cause an electrical hazard. You can’t use heat tape on plastic pipes, because it can melt them along with ice.
Heat tape must be installed correctly, to avoid the risk of fire. If you are not sure that you can properly install it, get professional help. Another thing to know when you buy them is to always check if the tape is a mobile home approved. Heat tape can last a long time, up to three years, if it is properly used. Most manufacturers advise replacing the tape after three years.
Hire professional help when in doubt
Although these methods for de-icing your gutters are safe for amateurs to try on if you are not sure that you can manage, hire a professional. You can try to do everything on your own and risk to spend even more money on fixing the damage and gutter repairing, later on. So decide on the best solution for your situation and carry it out.
To achieve the best results, you need to be a little crafty and good with handy work.
Once again, if you are not completely sure will you succeed hire a professional company to do this for you. Wintertime is particularly risky to go up the ladders or on a roof, because of rainy or snowy weather. Be careful so you avoid injuries or damages to your roof and gutters.
