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By Gutter Supply Chicago · 1816 S Trumbull Ave, Chicago, IL
Gutters and ice dams are a constant problem in Chicago winters. Ice dams do not start in the gutter, but they can bend gutters, pull hangers loose and send water behind the fascia. This guide explains what causes them and how contractors can build gutter systems that survive the season.
Ice dams form when heat escaping through the roof melts snow, and the water refreezes at the colder roof edge. Gutters do not cause ice dams, but heavy ice can damage them. To protect gutters, use strong hangers spaced about every 24 inches, heavier aluminum coil and enough downspouts, and fix the real cause with better attic insulation and ventilation.
| Problem | What happens | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Sagging gutters | Ice weight bends the gutter | Hangers about every 24 inches |
| Hangers pulling out | Fasteners loosen in the fascia | Screw-in hidden hangers |
| Dented or bent gutters | Thin metal deforms under ice | Heavier .032 inch coil |
| Water behind the fascia | Melt water backs up under the roof edge | Drip edge and good attic ventilation |
| Frozen downspouts | Ice blocks the outlet | Enough downspouts and clear outlets |
Ice dams start inside the house. Warm air leaks into the attic, warms the roof deck and melts the snow above it. The meltwater runs down to the roof edge, which sits over the cold eaves, and freezes again. Each freeze-and-thaw cycle builds the ridge of ice higher, until water pools behind it.
A full gutter of ice can weigh far more than a gutter full of water. That load bends thin gutters, crushes the front lip and pulls weak hangers out of the fascia. On older Chicago homes with soft fascia boards, the damage often spreads to the wood behind the gutter.
Use sturdy hidden hangers and space them closer than you would in a mild climate. Choose heavier aluminum gutter coil for exposed runs; our gutter coil gauge guide explains the options. Add enough downspouts so meltwater has somewhere to go on warmer days.
The lasting fix for ice dams is attic insulation, air sealing and roof ventilation. Recommend that the homeowner have the attic checked when you see repeated ice damage, and explain that stronger gutters reduce damage but do not stop ice from forming.
Gutter guards keep leaves out, which helps meltwater drain, but snow and ice can still build on top. Read do gutter guards work? before recommending them for ice-prone roofs.
For roofing and drainage best practices, see the National Roofing Contractors Association.
No. Ice dams are caused by heat escaping through the roof and melting snow, which refreezes at the cold roof edge. Gutters can be damaged by the ice, but they are not the cause.
About every 24 inches is common in the Chicago area to handle snow and ice. Closer spacing adds strength on exposed runs.
No. Removing gutters sends water and ice straight down onto walkways and foundations. Fix attic insulation and ventilation instead.
Gutter Supply Chicago supplies hangers, coil and downspouts with same-day quotes and job-site delivery. Call (312) 823-7355.
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