Is it Normal to Have Icicles Hanging From the Gutters?

Definition

• An icicle is the result of melted snow or water that is frozen as it drips to the ground. If it is cold enough, icicles can form anywhere. Trees, cars and light poles can be seen with icicles hanging from them during the winter. Small icicles on your home are common and should not cause any alarm. But icicles that continue to grow from your home's gutters indicate a significant problem that could damage your home.

Ice Dams

• Icicles that hang from your home's gutters are the kind that you need to monitor. If you have inadequate insulation or improper ventilation in your roof and soffits, the heated air will escape through the roof and melt the snow. As the melted snow hits the cold gutters, it turns to ice, creating an ice dam. If there is no heat to remove that ice, then the ice continues to build and creates extremely long icicles. The icicles and ice dam add weight to your gutters that could tear the gutters from the house, causing significant damage. The ice can also get under your shingles and begin to leak inside your home, causing water damage.

Prevention

• An ideal way to reduce icicles in your gutters is to have the insulation in your home analyzed by a professional contractor. The contractor will let you know how much insulation you need to protect your home from ice dams and icicles. Heat tape inside your gutters and along the edge of your roof can also help to prevent ice dams and icicles. Heat tape should be installed by a professional to insure proper coverage.

Warning

• It is extremely dangerous to knock large icicles off your gutters or to try and remove ice dams with a hammer. Hitting the ice in your gutters with a hammer will cause more pressure on your gutters and could accelerate their collapse. Large icicles can be unpredictable when you knock them off the gutters and could cause damage to your home as well as physical injury to you.