Ice build up in your gutters is a potential catastrophe. As standing water remains in your gutters, the cold weather can freeze this rainwater and prevent your guttering from doing its job.

With this in mind, it’s important you know how to prevent ice buildup in your gutters so you can avoid issues such as water damage to your walls, ceilings and insulation as well as damp and mould growth.

Of course, you don’t need us to tell you how much it would cost to fix these issues.

So, how do you prevent ice buildup in gutters? Let’s take a look…

How to prevent ice buildup in gutters

Firstly, we should note that ice buildup will entirely depend on the area of the UK you’re situated. If you’re based in Northern England or Scotland where temperatures are typically a bit lower than the UK average, you’ll be more prone to ice buildup.

Fortunately, there are some simple ways to stop it.

Run some tests

Firstly, you’ll want to run a down pipe test to ensure they’re clear. You can do this by simply dropping a coin into the top and seeing if it comes out at the bottom.

You’ll also want to do a visual check of your gutters to make sure there’s minimal debris, moss or leaves that could potentially clog them.

Make sure you clean your gutters at least twice a year

As mentioned above, having clean gutters will almost certainly prevent ice buildups. Therefore, make sure you’re cleaning them at least twice a year, preferably in Spring and beginning of Autumn. You can either hire a professional to do it for you, or invest in some good quality gutter cleaning tools if you’re going to clean them yourself.

Tip: A gutter vacuum, whilst expensive, will be a valuable investment over time.

Insulate your loft

Another issue you might find yourself having, especially if we’ve had snow, is ice build up on the roof. In order to combat this, you could consider insulating your loft area. Having an insulated loft will ensure the temperature of your roof is sufficient enough to avoid any ice buildup in the first place. According to Price This Please, you can also save up to £250 annually on your heating bills. Win win!