Winter weather has the potential to wreak havoc on anything it comes into contact with — including the exterior of your home. One element, in particular, that becomes especially vulnerable during harsh climate conditions is gutter systems. Because your gutters play an essential role in protecting you from experiencing a serious roof leak, it’s important to gain as much knowledge as possible about winter gutter repair and maintenance.

With decades of experience as Cincinnati, OH’s leading roofing contractor, Walter St Clair Roofing provides high-quality solutions for complications that property owners face year-round. Many of those issues come during winter and affect the effectiveness of gutters.

Icicles and ice dams are the biggest problems to watch out for when it comes to your gutters. While icicles may look pretty, what they mean for your gutter system isn’t so appealing. The formation of icicles puts quite a bit of strain on gutters and can eventually cause them to collapse and come crashing down. Ice dams are blockages that occur in a gutter system after melted snow has refrozen. When this happens, your drainage system will not operate correctly, and melting water will likely begin to leak into the roof and attic.

To do your best to prevent damages and the need for gutter repair, there are several preventive maintenance steps you can take. These include ensuring your gutters are thoroughly cleaned out before winter weather arrives, replacing insufficient attic insulation, and putting magnesium on the roof and in gutters to melt ice. Additionally, you can use a roof rake to get rid of any excess snow and make certain gutters are tightly secured in place.

Learning the facts about winter gutter repair and maintenance will save you quite a bit of time, money, and inconvenience in the long run. Contact Walter St Clair Roofing at (513) 641-3265 or visit their website for a complete list of services. You can also connect with the team on Facebook.