Clogged Gutters

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

Fall color came a bit late this year.  Many trees are still dropping leaves in the middle of November.  So while you may be used to cleaning your gutters earlier in the season, you will want to get out there and make sure your gutters and ridge lines are free of leaves and other debris now before the snow flies in earnest.  Keeping your gutters free of leaves and debris will keep rain and snow melt flowing through your gutters and away from your home.  This preventative maintenance will help avert water damage to your home this winter.  Clogged gutters can cause ice dams in the winter, and ice dams can result in water damage to your home. 

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. As snow melts from your roof, either by the heat of the sun, or by heat escaping from your home, it tends to refreeze at the edges and other juncture points of your roof. The refreezing of water has a damming effect creating an even bigger ice dam behind it. Continuous feeding of the ice dam by melting and refreezing snow melt can cause significant damage. As the water seeps under shingles, it refreezes expanding and creating an even bigger gap for future drainage to fill and further the cycle. Your shingles are being raised and eventually the water that backs up behind the dam, and underneath the shingles, can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and create a perfect environment for mold growth.

The forecast for the Fox Valley area this weekend is dry and low 40’s.  A perfect time to get out there and make sure your gutters are clean