Winter in New England is beautiful, but it is brutal on houses. From the heavy snowfalls of Worcester County to the freezing rain near the coast, your roof drainage system faces a supreme test every year. The biggest threat during these months is the dreaded ice dam. If you are a new homeowner or simply fed up with leaks, searching for gutter professionals near me before the first snowflake falls is critical.

What is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water backs up behind the dam and leaks into a home, causing damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.

It happens due to uneven roof temperatures. Heat escapes from your living space into the attic, warming the upper roof deck and melting the snow. The water runs down to the eaves (the overhang), which are cold because they aren't over the heated living space. The water refreezes there, building up a wall of ice.

The Role of Clean Gutters

While gutters don't cause ice dams (heat loss does), clogged gutters make the problem significantly worse. If your gutters are full of frozen autumn leaves, the melting snow has nowhere to go. It fills the gutter, freezes solid, and provides a massive foundation for the ice dam to grow even larger and faster.

Hiring gutter professionals near me like B.A. Harris for a late fall cleaning is your first line of defense. We ensure that when the snow melts, the water has a clear path down the spout and away from the house.

The Danger of DIY Removal

Every winter, we see homeowners trying to hack away at ice dams with hammers, shovels, or even pickaxes. This is incredibly dangerous. Not only do you risk falling from an icy ladder, but you also risk destroying your roof. Striking the ice often cracks the shingles or punctures the aluminum gutter underneath.

Others try to throw salt pucks onto the roof. While salt melts ice, it is corrosive. It can damage your shingles, kill your landscaping when it drains off, and corrode your aluminum gutters and downspouts.

Professional Solutions

As your local experts, B.A. Harris understands how to manage winter water.

1.     Pitch and Flow: We ensure your gutters are pitched correctly. Standing water freezes. Moving water drains. If your gutters are sagging, they will hold water that turns into heavy ice blocks, potentially ripping the gutter off the house.

2.     Gutter Guards: Installing high-quality gutter guards can help. While they don't stop ice dams from forming on the roof, they prevent the gutter box from filling with ice. This keeps the weight down and makes it easier for the system to start flowing again once the thaw begins.

3.     Drip Edge Extensions: We install these to ensure that water doesn't wick backward under the shingles as it freezes.

Damage Control

If you notice icicles hanging from your gutters that look like stalactites, or if you see water stains on your ceiling during a freeze, you have a problem. While we primarily focus on installation and prevention, consulting with gutter professionals near me can give you guidance on how to upgrade your system to handle future winters better.

Preparation is key. Don't wait until January. Ensure your system is clean, tight, and flowing freely before the temperature drops.

Learn more about our services at https://www.guttahs.com/.