Two summers ago, my mother decided to have additional insulation installed in her attic. Her timing was perfect because last winter was one of the coldest on record. Alloy Gutter Company received numerous calls inquiring about icicles and ice dams during this frigid weather. It’s not unusual for people to blame their gutters for their icicle problem. However, insulating your house is the best preventative against ice dams.
My brother was out in her backyard, blowing the snow, when he noticed something interesting. He could see that all of the other houses had icicles hanging from their gutters. Her gutters had NO icicles. She had insulated her attic in order to help keep the upstairs bedroom warmer but the bonus was that it prevented the ice damming that all her neighbors were experiencing.
If you want more information on what causes ice dams, we do explain it in more detail on this website. For most of us, the icicles are a minor annoyance. However, we can come out and apply calcium chloride in order to help melt the ice if leaking becomes a problem. As usual, Alloy Gutter Company will be here for you all winter long.