With winter weather quickly approaching, the last think you’ll want to be doing is heading to your roof to clean out your gutters. If you wait too long to clean out your gutters, it can lead to ice dams, which can be damaging to your home. In colder environments, ice dams are very common if your gutters are not cleaned out in a timely manner.

How Do Ice Dams Form?

Ice Dams occur when snow has melted and it refreezes to create ice that will hang down off the edge of your roof. This can make it dangerous for pedestrians to walk underneath. The weight of ice dams can cause damage to your home’s gutters, shingles and exterior paint.

How Do I Prevent Ice Dams?

  1. The easiest way to prevent ice dams from forming is to clean your gutters regularly. Before the first snow fall, clean out any leaves or debris that could cause gutters to clog.
  2. Another cause of ice dams, besides clogged gutters, is poorly insulated roofs and attics. Poorly insulated attics and roofs cause warm air to escape and snow to melt and refreeze, causing ice dams.
  3. Make sure that your attic has a proper ventilation system. Since warm air rises, you need to give it a place to go so it doesn’t get trapped in your roof. If warm air does get trapped in your roof, it can cause the snow to melt in your gutters and if they’re clogged, this will cause ice dams.

The best way you can prevent ice dams is by cleaning out your gutters on a regular basis. To schedule gutter cleaning services, contact Done Right Landscape today! Receive a quote by calling us at 781-858-8000 or by filling out our online contact form.