Why Icicles Form On Gutters

Possible causes of icicles on gutters.

Why icicles form on gutters.

I thought i d use this week s post to suggest some things you can do to prevent icicles from taking up residence in your gutters. Icicles form on gutters when excess water is not allowed to flow freely through the gutters. Icicles form when the gutter is obstructed and allows the water to run over the gutter and drip down below it. High attic temperature makes the lower section of the snow on your roof to melt.

This means a home with backed up gutters could be holding thousands of pounds of water and ice. This causes a significant runoff that trickles down to your gutters. Gutters will continue to be overwhelmed by melting snow from the roof which will cause a thicker layer of ice to form above the gutter edge and icicles will grow in size. Since the surrounding temperatures are still low and the gutters are heated by the attic the water will re freeze forming ice.

Icicles form when your gutters are obstructed by debris which can cause water to back up and settle on your roof. So there are plenty of good reasons to prevent icicles from forming in your gutters. In the winter the heat inside your house will often keep the roof warm causing snow that has gathered there to melt. A single gallon of rainwater can weigh as heavy as eight pounds.