Rain and snow, hail and sleet. Your gutters handle them all. Without gutters, you’d run into some serious problems.
But can they handle ice dams?
High-quality gutters can withstand intense weather, but they’re sometimes prone to obstruction. In cold temperatures, the gutters may then freeze over, causing ice dams.
Gutter guards may be the solution. The question is whether gutter guards can also cause ice dams.
In this article, we’ll discuss whether gutter guards can really protect your gutters.
What Causes Ice Dams?
Gutters are prone to obstruction. Without regular gutter maintenance, leaves and dirt can begin to accumulate inside them. This blocks them up, limiting or cutting off water flow.
Gutters in winter can then freeze over. Even though water and ice weigh the same, the water at least has a chance to filter out through the blockage. The ice stays there, putting weight on your gutters.
Gutters don’t exist only to redirect the water. They’re there to prevent water damage, among other things. But ice ruins their effectiveness and proves hard to remove later on.
Over time, this ice can accumulate to a weight that your gutters cannot withstand. The result could be a catastrophic failure where your gutter detaches from the roof and walls. This poses a serious safety hazard to you and your family, and may cause damage to your home.
Using Gutter Guards to Prevent Ice Dams
Gutter guards serve as a filter, allowing only water to sit in your gutters. They keep out leaves, sediment, and living creatures. But do they potentially lead to ice dams?
What tends to happen to gutters in winter is that the house heating melts the ice on the roof. This ice water trickles down into the gutters, where the cold temperatures cause it to freeze again. This builds up over time, leading to that catastrophic failure.
The problem is, these gutter guards can cause the same blockages they’re trying to prevent. Rather than stopping the leaves from blocking up at a junction, they block them off at the source.
Can You Install Gutter Guards that Don’t Cause Blockages?
The short answer is yes.
Not all gutter guards are equal. Your roofers may have had little experience or done the job as quickly as possible. They may have only installed gutter guards at a single point along the gutters, increasing the risk of a blockage.
There are several options for gutter guards. You can install a single, long filter over the top of the gutters. This keeps any and all contaminants out, reducing the chance of ice dams.
Alternatively, you can install a fine-mesh filter. This prevents anything from the roof from reaching the gutters in the first place. If ice dams form, they’ll melt off the roof before leading to more serious problems.
Whatever the case, you should contact the experts. They’ll know how to solve your gutter problems, regardless of the case.
Prevent Ice Dams in Your Gutters
Gutter guards are an effective way to prevent blockages and keep your gutters clear. However, they may lead to ice dams, which could exacerbate a simple blockage and lead to serious damage. Regular gutter maintenance is essential, and it’s best to contact professionals to do it safely.
Looking for gutter experts in your area? Look no further. Contact Gutter Empire today, and ensure ice dams don’t give you a headache tomorrow.
Last updated: October 2025