The reason for the weight of ice is that debris in the downspout is getting wet.
Best way to thaw gutters and down spouts.
The best thing to do is make sure your system is cleaned regularly every six months says brad ladner owner of atlanta s best gutter cleaners in roswell georgia.
This could cause more damage than good.
Looks like the freezing is backing up to the gutter making me concerned the ice build up could overload the gutter with weight and cause it to pull away from the roof.
Whether some of your downspouts remained clogged with debris when winter hit or your gutters are just reacting to all the snow and cold here s how to manage them until it warms up again.
Strategies to safely thaw a frozen gutter don t get out your hammers ice picks or axes.
If neither of these ways help please do not use force by striking your downspout.
This can lead to your gutter and downspout tearing away from your roof or siding leading to more costly and larger problems such as water leaks and improper drainage.
That allows water to easily flow to the downspout.
The wrong way to thaw gutters.
Here are some things you can do to prevent ice in gutters and downspouts.
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If you live in a colder part of the world you may run into a situation where your downspouts become frozen.
Should i try to thaw out the downspout.
For starters it s prudent to list some of the ways not to thaw iced over gutters.
Gutter cleaners say a little prevention goes a long way to save you from frozen folly.
This should be good enough to thaw minor ice buildup and break up the blockage.
A downspout is an integral part of a home s gutter system.
On line advice about frozen downspouts varies.
Some say just leave it alone.
Rain gutters should slope 1 2 inch for every 10 feet.
Attempting to break up the ice with a hammer this can dent your gutters or cause them to separate from the roof using a hatchet axe or shovel to break up the ice see 1.
Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention.
Make sure your gutters are properly sloped.
The downspout is responsible for taking the water collected by the gutters and dispersing it out and away from the home s foundation.
If your gutters sit flat water will just sit in the gutter and freeze.
Another way you can thaw is by running hot water down the outside of the downspout near the blocked area.
Long term prevention involves checking for bends and dings in the downspouts before winter sets in.
I ve got a frozen downspout on the corner of my house due to multiple high snowfalls this year crazy low temps from polar vortexes indiana.
