Gutter Heaters

[ch33zw1z]

I'm going to have to do something. I'm hoping the ice dam melts today or at a minimum, weakens enough to where I can hit it with a hoe a few times and break it up.

The panty hose filled with "roof-safe" salt does work in a pinch.

Old thread revived by OP with additional information, but now it belongs in Home and Garden, so I'm moving it .
admin allisolm.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The panty hose filled with "roof-safe" salt does work in a pinch.

I just tossed some of those deicing crystals up onto the dam. I'll go back out and see what progress is made. I can't get onto the roof because it is iced up and I'd fall. I've also been afraid of doing it when it was colder to be honest because I was afraid that it would just shift the water somewhere else and maybe cause another ice dam and spread the damage beyond the one spot on my garage ceiling. My strategy has been to keep the damage to that one area and since that ceiling drywall will need to be replaced anyway, any additional drainage won't hurt.

I'm really anal about my house and this has me seriously bummed, but thank god it isn't over a living space.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Lace your roof with explosives. And, when it starts snowing; KABOOM!

That'll show mother nature and old man winter not to fuck with your gutters.

 

[jaedaliu]

I just tossed some of those deicing crystals up onto the dam. I'll go back out and see what progress is made. I can't get onto the roof because it is iced up and I'd fall. I've also been afraid of doing it when it was colder to be honest because I was afraid that it would just shift the water somewhere else and maybe cause another ice dam and spread the damage beyond the one spot on my garage ceiling. My strategy has been to keep the damage to that one area and since that ceiling drywall will need to be replaced anyway, any additional drainage won't hurt.

I'm really anal about my house and this has me seriously bummed, but thank god it isn't over a living space.

Aren't you supposed to get a roof rake and pull the snow away from the edge while it's still snow? Our maintenance guys take care of everything, so I don't really know. The only thing they don't do is get rid of the wall of snow/ice they plow behind our cars. Well, I saw them do it with their snow blower for an elderly couple that was shoveling their car out on Sunday morning, then they drove right by me. Guess I don't qualify for their help.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Aren't you supposed to get a roof rake and pull the snow away from the edge while it's still snow? Our maintenance guys take care of everything, so I don't really know. The only thing they don't do is get rid of the wall of snow/ice they plow behind our cars. Well, I saw them do it with their snow blower for an elderly couple that was shoveling their car out on Sunday morning, then they drove right by me. Guess I don't qualify for their help.

I did keep that area clean with a roof rake. The issue was that we got hit with freezing rain/ice and then a huge snowfall on top of it before I could get out there. I got much of the snow off but the ice stayed and snow above the ice dam that I couldn't reach melted and formed a reservoir behind it.

 

[Wyndru]

My gutters freeze and have ice build up but that doesn't have much effect on my house (no leaks or water around the house).

I'm just curious, what issues are you experiencing to cause you to get Gutter heater?

I thought the same for a few years since we moved in, and then last year one of our gutters fell completely off of the house in the middle of the spring during a rain storm.

The spot where I had the most icicles each winter had allowed water to get behind the gutters and rotted the fascia to the point that it ripped off of the rafters.

 

[Gillbot]

I just tossed some of those deicing crystals up onto the dam. I'll go back out and see what progress is made. I can't get onto the roof because it is iced up and I'd fall. I've also been afraid of doing it when it was colder to be honest because I was afraid that it would just shift the water somewhere else and maybe cause another ice dam and spread the damage beyond the one spot on my garage ceiling. My strategy has been to keep the damage to that one area and since that ceiling drywall will need to be replaced anyway, any additional drainage won't hurt.

I'm really anal about my house and this has me seriously bummed, but thank god it isn't over a living space.

I started to get some water in so I did the same, but I got up on a ladder and poured a line of deicer about 2"x2" over the area where the gutter was and waited an hour or two. That stuff melted right down through the ice jam like nothing so I added a little more to be safe and sprinkled some around on the roof where there was still some ice and so far so good. I got three 20lb bags but only ended up using about 1/2 of one bag.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

I've seen this thread since its been up, today I read it as "Gutter Haters" and had to do a double take.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I started to get some water in so I did the same, but I got up on a ladder and poured a line of deicer about 2"x2" over the area where the gutter was and waited an hour or two. That stuff melted right down through the ice jam like nothing so I added a little more to be safe and sprinkled some around on the roof where there was still some ice and so far so good. I got three 20lb bags but only ended up using about 1/2 of one bag.

It was almost 50 here today, so much of the ice dam is now gone. Just seeing a little more drainage. That section of my garage ceiling is in pretty bad shape right now (about 2' x 2'). I'm hoping we'll be able to get the roof replaced and the part of the ceiling fixed next month.

 

[Gillbot]

I'll have to get into the attic when we have warmer weather and see the extent of the damage if there is any. Last time this happened we had a contractor come out and he said "put fans on it, get her dry and call it done." Since there was minimal water entry and no rot, I kinda agree with him. I think I kept ahead of it pretty good so we'll see.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'll have to get into the attic when we have warmer weather and see the extent of the damage if there is any. Last time this happened we had a contractor come out and he said "put fans on it, get her dry and call it done." Since there was minimal water entry and no rot, I kinda agree with him. I think I kept ahead of it pretty good so we'll see.

You're probably OK doing that. If the leak was minimal and you just see a water stain on the ceiling, you can apply some Kilz. paint over it, and be done. I'm not so lucky.

 

[Joe C]

Don't waste time and money with heaters. Fix the problem from the inside and you will not have icicles.


http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-135-ice-dams?full_view=1

 

[ch33zw1z]

Good link Joe, I got a lot of work ahead of me!

 

[bruceb]

I have a bilevel home with the insulation in the attic floor. Attic has 2 vents, one on each eave. This year, we have some icicles (about 2 ft long in spots), but looking at other homes nearby, they seem to be getting a similar condition (all right near me were built same time frame and builder, around 1981)

 

[Joe C]

Good link Joe, I got a lot of work ahead of me!

Several years ago I corrected the problem areas in my attic, using that link as a guide. Right now, I have over 2 feet of snow on my roof with no icicles.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Several years ago I corrected the problem areas in my attic, using that link as a guide. Right now, I have over 2 feet of snow on my roof with no icicles.

very nice. i don't bookmark too many links, but that one did make it to my list.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Bump, old thread I know, but relevant. I took this advice and got these things done:

Note, I have a Ridge vent, so soffit matter.

1. perforated soffit all the way across both sides

2. proper vents installed in each bay.

3. blown in insulation, it's roughly 20 inches deep.

Winter '15-'16, not a single ice cicle, nice snow pack, drainage from gutter's was appropriate. although, this past winter didn't match the winter before, lol, '14-'15 was brutal.

I've also been able to help others who don't know this stuff.

Thanks Joe C for the help, it makes a difference.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yes Ch33zw1z that does help. I too have a ridge vent and about 20" of cellulose insulation. Since we added the insulation ice has become a problem, I have been using a roof rake regularly but its good to know the sofit venting helped your problem.

 

[ch33zw1z]

do you have the perforated soffits all the way across and the proper vents (plastic chutes for air upflow)?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

do you have the perforated soffits all the way across and the proper vents (plastic chutes for air upflow)?

No Sir its been something I want to do though. Maybe next year.

Did you get the vents like this for the attic?
*I know you don't have a fan but the "duct" goes to the ridge vent*