How to Remove Frozen Leaves from your Gutters

When the temperatures drop, it’s not uncommon for the guttering and pipes of your roof to freeze. But, because these sit on the outside of your house, out of sight, they often get forgotten about.

But, frozen gutters can cause an issue if they are filled with leaves or other debris. This is because, if the leaves freeze, then they can get stuck to the gutter. Obviously, this can impact the performance of your gutters, and make them more prone to damage.

So, if you do spot frozen leaves in your gutter, it’s important that you address the issue quickly. Here’s how.

What to do if your gutters freeze over in winter?

If your gutters freeze – or leaves freeze so that they are stuck in the gutters – then you need to carefully melt the gutters and then remove the debris.

There are three main methods that you can use to tackle the issue of a frozen gutter.

1. Clear the ice with a roof rake

If the ice is soft or thin, then you might be able to remove it manually using a roof rake.

You can do this standing at ground-level, and then scraping away at the gutter until the ice and debris come loose.

Roof rakes are designed to have gentle blades, so that they don’t scratch up the guttering or the roof.

2. Use hot water to melt the ice

However, if the ice is too solid to scratch away, then you will need to melt it.

You can do this by pouring hot water down the gutters. This will help to break up the ice, and prevent it from building up to an unmanageable level.

However, note that this requires ascending a ladder with a jug of boiling water. So, in order to do this as safely as possible, you’ll need someone else on hand to keep the ladder steady.

3. Use the stocking method

Although the stocking method is mainly used to prevent ice, it can also be used to stop a small amount of existing ice from escalating.

For this method, you need to fill old socks with calcium chloride. Then, place the socks directly on top of the ice that is blocking the gutter.

Although you might think it’d be easier to just sprinkle the calcium chloride directly into the gutters, this can result in permanent stains on the roof.

How to prevent ice build-up in your gutter

If your gutters do freeze, it can be quite a pain to get rid of it.

So, it’s well worth taking the proactive approach.

Our top tips for preventing ice from building up in your gutter are:

1. Make sure you keep your roof well maintained during the summer and autumn months

2. Add a layer of insulation to your gutters

3. Look at installing heat cables to your gutters

4. During winter, check the weather forecast, and remove debris before snow or ice is predicted

5. Ensure your attic is properly sealed and insulated

6. Implement a proper roof and gutter maintenance schedule, throughout the year.

Why should you keep your gutters debris-free?

Gutters that are filled with leaves or other debris are much more prone to freezing. This is because this debris obstructs the flow of water, meaning it is more likely to freeze when the temperatures drop.

And, if freezing does occur, it can cause a whole host of problems. In fact, ice can even cause the gutter to pull away from the rest of the house, resulting in permanent (and expensive) damage. Or, if ice is allowed to sit in the gutter for an extensive period of time, it can encourage leaks, damp or mould growth.

So, if you have any questions about proper gutter care and maintenance, or if you want to prevent these issues with a regular roof maintenance schedule, the B&S Roofing team is on hand to help.

Contact our team for a quote today!