Question: With record breaking snowfall in the Northeast this past winter we had very bad ice dams build up on our roof. Unfortunately, The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting another cold and snowy winter. My question is about heat tapes and/or heated gutters. How well do these methods work in keeping gutters clear and preventing ice dam build up?
Answer: Great question! Before we talk about heated gutters and heat strips, we want to talk about the causes of ice dams.
How Do You Stop Icicle Buildup (Ice Dams)?
To avoid ice dams, your roof and attic need to maintain a temperature consistent with the outdoor temperature. To ensure these two temperatures are the same you must have two things:
- 1. Proper insulation
- 2. Adequate ventilation
When it comes to the heat strips and heated gutters…
These products may help prevent ice dams from forming, but they will not guarantee complete ice dam prevention if you’ve experienced ice dams on your home in the past. First, let’s understand how ice dams form.
If your attic floor isn’t properly insulated and your roof not properly ventilated, then the heat inside your home can rise and collect inside your attic space, warming your roof. Once enough snow collects on your roof, it starts to act as insulation – further allowing the temperature of your roof to rise until it is warm enough to melt the snow in contact with it. This melted snow travels down your roof shingles into your gutters. Because your gutters sit away from your warm roof, the melted snow re-freezes. Voila, there’s your ice dam.
The damage homeowners often face due to ice dams happens once the ice in your gutters has built up enough that the meltwater has nowhere else to go, because the meltwater will travel up. As water travels back up your roof, if there’s no Ice & Water Shield (a protective layer laid beneath your shingles), meltwater will seep down under your shingles and into your home.
In theory, the heat strips and heated gutters can prevent the meltwater that runs down your roof from freezing into ice in your gutters. But what about when the water has traveled past the heated gutters? It will freeze just past your gutters. Eventually the ice will build up and reach the point where your heated gutters and heat tape aren’t enough to work against this ice buildup and you’ll be facing ice dams once again. The heat strips and heated gutters are just one more thing that could fail, leaving your home susceptible to more issues. To truly ensure your home is protected from ice dams and potential damage, you need proper insulation, ventilation, and Ice & Water Shield.
How Can You Prevent Ice Dams?
Want to learn more about how ice dams form and how to prevent them? Check out our Winter Ready Home Guide and read All About Ice Dams!
