Yeah, I hear you on the ice dams. I thought cleaning my gutters would be enough, but nope—still got a mini skating rink by the front steps last winter. Turns out, attic insulation really does make a difference. It’s always something with these houses...
still got a mini skating rink by the front steps last winter
Same here—my walkway turned into the Olympic trials. I swear, I could’ve charged admission. Did you ever try those heated gutter cables? I keep seeing them at the hardware store but not sure if they’re worth the hassle or just another thing to break.
I’ve wondered about those heated cables too. My neighbor swears by them, but he’s also the guy who has a snowblower for his deck, so I’m not sure if he’s just into gadgets. I usually just end up salting the heck out of the steps and hoping for the best. Do those cables actually keep the gutters clear, or do they just move the ice problem somewhere else? I keep picturing a giant icicle forming right where the downspout ends...
Do those cables actually keep the gutters clear, or do they just move the ice problem somewhere else? I keep picturing a giant icicle forming right where the downspout ends...
That’s a legit concern. I’ve seen those cables work for keeping gutters open, but yeah, sometimes you just end up with a big frozen mess at the bottom of the downspout. It’s like trading one headache for another. If your drainage isn’t great or you’ve got a short downspout, you might just be shifting the ice further down. Anyone else notice that, or is it just my luck?
Yeah, I’ve run into the same thing. The cables definitely help keep the gutters from freezing solid, but if it’s really cold and there’s nowhere for the meltwater to go, you can get a mini skating rink at the bottom of your downspout. I tried extending mine further away from the house, but then the ice just crept out into the yard. It’s kind of a trade-off—less risk to the gutters, but you still have to watch where that water ends up. Not sure there’s a perfect fix unless you’re willing to babysit it all winter...
