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.
Best way to thaw gutters and down spouts.
This should be good enough to thaw minor ice buildup and break up the blockage.
The best way to thaw gutters that are completely frozen is by using hot water or steam.
If neither of these ways help please do not use force by striking your downspout.
However you might not have a hose to do this method.
If you live in a colder part of the world you may run into a situation where your downspouts become frozen.
This is very time consuming.
You can fill pitchers or buckets full of hot water and pour them over your gutters.
This could cause more damage than good.
Looks like the freezing is backing up to the gutter making me concerned the ice build up could overload the gutter with weight and cause it to pull away from the roof.
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 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.
Gutter cleaners say a little prevention goes a long way to save you from frozen folly.
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.
Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention.
Strategies to safely thaw a frozen gutter don t get out your hammers ice picks or axes.
The reason for the weight of ice is that debris in the downspout is getting wet.
A downspout is an integral part of a home s gutter system.
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Over time the ice can back up into your gutters creating additional weight on your entire gutter system.
Should i try to thaw out the downspout.
The wrong way to thaw gutters.
The easiest way to do this is to use a hose and run hot water through it onto the gutters.
The downspout is responsible for taking the water collected by the gutters and dispersing it out and away from the home s foundation.