Best Way To Thaw Gutters And Down Spouts

This could cause more damage than good.

Best way to thaw gutters and down spouts.

Whether some of your downspouts remained clogged with debris when winter hit or your gutters are just reacting to all the snow and cold here s how to manage them until it warms up again. The downspout is responsible for taking the water collected by the gutters and dispersing it out and away from the home s foundation. Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention. If you live in a colder part of the world you may run into a situation where your downspouts become frozen.

A downspout is an integral part of a home s gutter system. This is very time consuming. The easiest way to do this is to use a hose and run hot water through it onto the gutters. Over time the ice can back up into your gutters creating additional weight on your entire gutter system.

2x3 and 3x4 downspout gutter elbows choose from 30 degree 45 degree 75 degree 90 degree 30 degree style a 2x3 low gloss white 4 7 out of 5 stars 75 19 60 19 65. The wrong way to thaw gutters. However you might not have a hose to do this method. Attempting to break up the ice with a hammer this can dent your gutters or cause them to separate from the roof using a hatchet axe or shovel to break up the ice see 1.

Strategies to safely thaw a frozen gutter don t get out your hammers ice picks or axes. For starters it s prudent to list some of the ways not to thaw iced over gutters. This should be good enough to thaw minor ice buildup and break up the blockage. Gutter cleaners say a little prevention goes a long way to save you from frozen folly.

This can lead to your gutter and downspout tearing away from your roof or siding leading to more costly and larger problems such as water leaks and improper drainage. Another way you can thaw is by running hot water down the outside of the downspout near the blocked area. The best thing to do is make sure your system is cleaned regularly every six months says brad ladner owner of atlanta s best gutter cleaners in roswell georgia. I ve got a frozen downspout on the corner of my house due to multiple high snowfalls this year crazy low temps from polar vortexes indiana.

If neither of these ways help please do not use force by striking your downspout. You can fill pitchers or buckets full of hot water and pour them over your gutters. The best way to thaw gutters that are completely frozen is by using hot water or steam.