Winter weather can take a massive toll on the exterior of your home. Whether it’s sleet, snow, or ice, it can cause a number of problems for the external features of your home, such as gutters, which have important functions for the interior of your home. To prevent water damage or even something as extreme as a roof collapse, it is imperative for you to protect your gutters and roof from ice.
Here’s how ice can severely damage your home.
Ice Dams on Your Gutters
Ice dams are huge chunks of ice that form along the side of the roof. These are formed when the snow and ice begin to melt on your roof. The snow starts to melt in the center of the roof and causes ice dams in the gutters, where the temperature is much colder.
Ice Build Up in Your Gutter System
Ice can build up in your gutters during Vancouver’s typical winter storms. This leads to melted snow running along over the edge of the gutters to form long icicles. This will obstruct the proper function of your gutters and prolong the exposure of moisture to your home.
Pressure on Your Gutters
Too much pressure on your gutters can cause them to crack or crumble and even completely separate from your home. This happens when the weight of ice and snow in and around your gutters is too much for the system to handle.
While these scenarios do sound daunting, there are ways to ensure that your gutters remain damage-free all winter long.
How Do I Prevent Further Damage to My Gutters?
Here are some ways in which you can prevent further harm to your gutters:
Salt Your Gutters
Salting your gutters is a great way to prevent ice from forming in the first place. However, it is important for you to use sodium chloride instead of rock salt when doing so. Rock salt can spread onto your driveway and or sidewalk and damage that as well.
Make Sure Your Gutters are Sloped
Your gutters should be slightly sloped to ensure any water flows to your downspouts. Completely flat gutters can cause significant damage by clogging proper drainage. It can lead to a build-up of ice or rainwater.
Get Your Gutters Serviced and Cleaned
It is important to ensure that your gutters are regularly serviced so that you know how durable and sturdy they are, and when you need to replace them.
These may seem like tasks you can to take on yourself, however, it’s better to leave it up to the experts. Professional gutter cleaning services ensure that your gutters are treated in the best way possible.
Contact one of our professionals at Umbrella Property Services to take good care of your gutters and give them the servicing they need for optimal performance. Your homes matter to us. Contact us now for a free quote.
