Homeowner Tips for Before, During, and After a Hard Winter Freeze

When the temperature drops, frozen precipitation may begin to accumulate in the gutter runs of your home. Sometimes this happens due to gutters needing to be properly maintained. It is important to ensure your gutters are free of debris, cracks, or any other problems. If your gutters have a build-up of debris and it rains, the water may not drain. This becomes especially problematic during frigid temperatures since the backed-up water may freeze and turn to ice. Ice will expand, and the pressure that this movement places on the gutter channel will increase. Once the gutter has been stretched to its limit, the pressure exerted on it has the potential to cause cracks or even distort the gutter.

During the winter, another factor to take into account is when additional layers of frozen precipitation accumulate or when melting precipitation freezes on top of existing layers of ice. This buildup has the potential to spread beyond the gutters and start making its way under the roof shingles that are located close to the gutters. It is also possible for the ice to move between the gutter run and the wall to which it is attached, which would result in the gutter run becoming disconnected from the point at which it is fastened.

Once the temperature rises above freezing and the ice begins to melt, these points of damage will become sources of potential trouble. It is possible that your gutters have been damaged to the point where they are unable to remove water from the roof. This water may find its way into the walls of your home or under the tiles on your roof, leading to the growth of mold in addition to other structural damage that will need to be repaired at a high cost.

One of the biggest posing risks in our geographical area is the clogging of gutters with debris. Fortunately, the best solution is fairly straightforward. Gutter filters are the best defense against debris buildup in gutters and you can set up an appointment today to have them installed professionally. If you do not have filters and do not wish to have them installed, gutters should be cleaned regularly. Most professionals offer gutter cleaning services, however, if you choose to clean them yourself, please be very careful climbing on ladders to clean them. It is best to have experienced professionals clean your gutters and install filters.

Debris can not only collect inside of the gutters themselves but may also accumulate at the bottom of a gutter channel, debris such as tree leaves and shingles or other roofing materials that have become loose can become a blockage. This has the potential to obstruct water flow and stop it from draining down your gutters. Even if there is adequate drainage, it will still be able to hold water in the clumps of debris. Gutter cleaning should be a routine part of your fall maintenance routine, performed after the leaves have fallen and before the first freeze of the season. 

Fortunately, in south Louisiana snow is uncommon, though not impossible. In the event that it does snow, carefully clear away any snow that has accumulated on your roof. Eliminating the potential source of ice dams before they have a chance to form is a straightforward method for avoiding their formation. As the temperature rises, the snow or frozen precipitation that is currently sitting on your roof will melt. This will result in a runoff, which, once the temperature drops below freezing, will cause the gutters to become iced over.

Specialty tools are made and available to purchase that help shovel snow off of rooftops, but it is unlikely to find these tools available in the Baton Rouge area or in south Louisiana at all. You may need to improvise to clear any snow off of your rooftop and it will likely take some time, but you will be able to clear away a significant amount of the accumulation before the snow has a chance to melt and the water source that can lead to the formation of ice dams will be removed. As a reminder, when doing any sort of maintenance work on your home, please ensure you have the proper safety equipment and are extremely careful, so you do not get injured. We recommend reaching out to a licensed, experienced professional before attempting any potentially dangerous and challenging tasks. We at Preaux Gutters & Construction are happy to help with any of your gutter or construction needs.