Ice Dams and Gutters: How Clean Gutters Help Prevent Them

Ice dams form when attic heat melts roof snow and the water refreezes at the cold roof edge, and clogged gutters make them worse by trapping water that freezes. Cleaning gutters and downspouts before winter lets meltwater drain away and lowers the risk of ice dams.

What are ice dams and why do they matter?

Ice dams are the thick ridges of ice that build up along roof edges in winter, usually with icicles hanging below. Homeowners on Cleveland's west side see them every year.

They can look harmless, but they cause real damage. Water backs up behind the ice, works its way under the shingles and leaks into walls and ceilings.

The damage often goes unnoticed until stains show up on a ceiling or the drywall softens. By then, water has usually been getting in for a while.

What causes ice dams on Northeast Ohio roofs?

Warm air from the house rises into the attic and melts the snow on the roof. That meltwater runs down to the roof edge, which is colder, and freezes again.

As the ice builds, it forms a dam. New meltwater pools behind it with nowhere to go, and that standing water is what finds its way under the shingles.

The cycle repeats every time the sun or the heat inside the house melts more snow. Over a long winter, the ridge of ice can grow along the entire roof edge.

How do clean gutters help prevent ice dams?

Clogged gutters are a major contributor to ice dams. When gutters are packed with leaves and debris, water cannot drain, so it sits in the gutter, freezes and gives ice a head start along the whole roof edge.

Clean gutters let water flow through the downspouts and away from the house. That is why a gutter cleaning in fall, after the leaves come down and before winter arrives, matters so much here.

• Water drains through the downspouts instead of pooling at the roof edge
• Less standing water in the gutter to freeze
• Lower chance of water backing up under the shingles
• Less risk of leaks, drywall damage and mold inside the walls

Should you remove ice dams yourself?

We do not recommend it. Climbing onto a roof covered in snow and ice is dangerous, and chipping at an ice dam with a hammer or ice pick can damage your shingles.

The better plan is prevention. If your gutters have not been cleaned since the leaves fell, get them cleared before the next stretch of freezing weather.

If you already see ice building along the roof edge, keep an eye on the ceilings and upper walls inside for water stains, and keep people away from the area under heavy icicles.

How Purified Wash helps prevent ice dams

Purified Wash cleans gutters across Rocky River, Westlake, Bay Village, Avon Lake, North Olmsted, Fairview Park, Lakewood and the rest of Cleveland's west side. We clear the debris from gutters and downspouts, then bag it and haul it away.

A fall cleaning, after the leaves are down, is the most useful timing for ice dam prevention, since it clears the gutters right before the first freeze.

Gutter cleaning can also be bundled with other services on the same visit, which saves money. Book a free in-person quote online or text (440) 865-8993, and we will come out, look at the property and give you an exact price, often doing the work on the same visit.

Next steps

• Gutter Cleaning