Most of us love the first snow of the season. It reminds us of cozy memories of being huddled inside with family members, Scrabble games, and holiday gatherings. It doesn’t take long to remember that too much snow isn’t always a good thing, because yes, snow can damage gutters.
For instance, gutter damage from snow can cause a variety of issues, such as wood rot, foundation erosion, and mold. These things result from snow accumulation, ice dams, and icicles that add too much weight to your gutters, causing bending, twisting, or sagging. Then, as ice melts, the gutter system doesn’t work effectively, and water just sits or overflows.
Some regions of the U.S. receive more snow than others, so if you’re in a heavy snow area, you should prepare your home for winter, which means your gutters as well. Gutters in snow country should be oversized to control the potential buildup of snow and ice.
We’ll show you how to identify gutter damage caused by snow, how it should be repaired, and what you can do to prevent it from occurring again.
Identifying the Signs of Gutter Damage from Snow
Your home’s roof and gutters can’t handle too much snow without damaging both systems. Identifying the signs of gutter damage from snow in a timely manner is the key to a successful resolution.
Here’s a brief list of visual signs that may indicate your gutters have suffered damage from snow and ice:
- Ice dams. Gutters in snow country can experience ice dams over uninsulated spaces. This accumulation forms a dam, preventing the melting runoff from reaching the gutter.
- Icicles. Icicles form when a constant water supply is available, such as from a drip. Icicles usually indicate a leak and are often found near end caps and corners.
- Sagging. Sagging indicates one or more of the fasteners holding the gutter to the fascia has failed. This sag will overflow when the water level is high enough and can erode the topsoil, leading to foundation erosion.
- Roof Avalanches. When gutters are full and frozen, there’s nothing to stop large sheets of ice and snow, known as roof avalanches, from falling below. If you or your family member are standing under a roof avalanche, it can be dangerous. Some roof designs include small vertical clips that help prevent roof avalanches and the damage they can cause.
Preventing Gutter Damage from Snow
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the message certainly applies to preventing gutter damage from snow.
By helping avoid snow accumulation, you’ll save money on repairs, reduce maintenance, avoid headaches, and better protect your home from water damage.
Here are some tips to prevent gutter damage from snow:
- Clean the gutters regularly. If possible, clean the gutters before and during winter to remove any leaves, twigs, or debris that may cause clogs or blockages. Consider wearing a respirator in case you encounter mold and mildew.
- Consider installing gutter guards or covers. They can prevent snow and ice from entering and accumulating in the gutters. There are simple versions, like brush, screen, and foam guards, that filter out large debris. If you have a larger budget, consider investing in micro mesh or reverse curve gutter guards. They require very little maintenance, as they deflect the debris away from the gutter and filter out large objects.
- Consider adding attic insulation, baffles, and ventilation. These things can prevent heat loss and uneven snow melting on the roof. Ice dams occur when melted snow flows over an uninsulated area, like a soffit, and refreezes before being drained.
- Install snow and ice guards underneath the first 48” of shingles. Snow and ice guards protect the roof sheathing when ice dams allow the snow to melt slowly instead of quickly draining away.
- Remove excess snow from the roof. You can achieve this with a roof rake or a broom to reduce the load on the gutters. Use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as working on a snowy roof can be dangerous.
- Install heat tape or heat cables to the gutters and downspouts. This will melt any ice that forms and keep gutters and downspouts clear. They can also prevent pipes from freezing in extreme environments, but they also work great for deicing gutters.
Repairing Gutter Damage from Snow
Your gutters are one of the most important systems in your home, so it’s important to restore their function as soon as possible once they’re damaged.
Gutters for heavy snow areas must be sized and installed appropriately, or overflows and snow damage are likely.
If snow damages your gutters, there are a few things you can do to correct snow-damaged gutters yourself:
- Thaw ice dams or icicles, especially near the downspout. Work your way from the ground up, not from the roof down. Thawing from the bottom up will allow the melted ice to drain away, preventing further overflows.
- Straighten any sagging gutters by moving or replacing the fasteners. If using spikes or screws, don’t use the same hole in the fascia. Make a new hole and caulk the old one. For hidden hangers, loosen the screw, slide the hanger to another spot, and reinstall the screw.
- Patch small cracks or holes in the gutters using an appropriate patch kit. When drips are allowed to continue, large icicles can form and add significant weight to the gutters they were not designed to carry.
- Replace large sections of broken and torn gutters. Put new gutter sections instead of creating multiple joints. Joints are responsible for most gutter leaks, so you’ll want to create fewer, not more, joints and seams.
- Consider upgrading to a wider gutter. As long as you’re replacing gutters, it may be a good idea to upgrade from the standard 5” K style gutter to a wider 6” version. These will pass most debris that would clog a 5” gutter, so you’ll also need to enlarge the downspouts from 2” x 3” to 3” x 4” as well.
If your gutter project seems outside your skill level, consider hiring a local gutter pro to fix your gutters and watch how they do it. You’ll get to watch experts do what they do best, plus you’ll get a free education. Next time, maybe you’ll be confident to tackle the project DIY style.
Snow Can Damage Your Gutters, So Stay Prepared
The best way to preserve the life and function of your gutters, especially in snowy regions, is to perform regular inspections and maintenance. Remember to identify issues and make repairs to gutter damage from snow safely, and use heat tape and other devices to prevent the problem from recurring.
Contact our experienced gutter team for a free estimate. Many of the skills required for repairing gutters cross over to other disciplines, like roofing and siding. As home improvement providers, we’re ready to serve you by providing top-notch service you can rely on.
FAQs
How do I keep my gutters from getting damaged from snow?
If your budget allows, consider adding gutter guards over or inside your gutters. Some filter the melting snow runoff, which means they require regular cleaning. Others mostly deflect the clogging debris instead of filtering it, so there’s less maintenance.
Can gutters be repaired in winter?
Adhesives also tend to have working temperature ranges, so if you use them anyway, they may not work as described. However, mechanical fasteners, like pop rivets, have a wider temperature range and may be more appropriate for high or low temperatures.
How do I know if my gutters are damaged?
The issue with removing and replacing damaged gutters is that they can be much heavier coming down than they were due to dirt buildup. This can make long sections easy to break because they weren’t designed to support their own weight, plus the dirt and debris.
Before attempting a gutter inspection, remove the debris as much as possible and clean the joints. Joints and unions are responsible for most leaks, while failed hangers come in a closer second. Repair these areas first and check the gutter slope for accuracy, as it may help reduce snow accumulation.
