My Box Gutter Has Ice Leaking on the Ceiling

Pitch

• The steeper the pitch of your box gutters the less likely water will be able to sit around and freeze during the winter. Have a professional roofer analyze your box gutters and create the steepest gutter pitch that your home can handle. If the pitch is too steep, then water will flow over the downspout junction during heavy rainstorms and damage your home. A professional will know how to set your box gutters at the maximum angle to help water run away from your roof before it becomes ice.

Cleaning

• Leaves, twigs and roofing debris that collects in your box gutters can start to prevent the flow of water down the gutters and clog up the downspout junction as well. Because box gutters hold more volume that other gutter styles, box gutters tend to collect more debris as well. Clean your box gutters regularly to ensure that water is safely transported away from your home and to prevent ice from building up in your gutters. A clogged box gutter downspout will result in ice in your gutters that will cause leaks into your home.

Reduce Available Snow

• One of the ways that you can prevent ice in your gutters is to reduce the amount of snow on your roof. Invest in a roof rake that you can use to remove snow from the edge of your roof before it can turn into ice in your box gutter. A roof rake is a plastic snow shovel on an telescoping arm that can allow you to safely remove the snow from your roof. Avoid applying pressure to the roof rake while using it as you can tear shingles off your roof. Only use the roof rake when several inches of snow have accumulated on the roof. Persistent use of a roof rake will erode or damage your shingles.

Heating Tape

• Ice that collects in box gutters can cause severe damage to your home. Because the box gutter holds more water than other gutter styles, it also accumulates more ice. The heavier the ice gets, the greater the chance that it will cause your gutter to collapse. You can regulate the ice in your box gutters by having heating tape installed along the edge of your roof and in your gutters. Plug in the heating tape when icicles start to form. The tape melts the ice.