A Winter warning

Many of us associate winter icicles with a special time of year, and a cozy, magical "snuggle in your warm home" with cocoa kind of feeling. 

We feel similarly, but also weary about icicles - given the potential damage they can do to your gutters. 

Icicles form (as you know) when water, rain, or melting snow drips down, and freezes before falling to the surface below. Think stalactites from caves and caverns. 

The issue with huge sheets of long icicles is threefold: 
-From a safety perspective, these icicles could fall on people, animals, or vehicles below. 
-Icicles add a tremendous amount of weight to whatever they're attached to. Generally, they like to grow on your gutter, or from piles of compacted snow just above your gutter. Should this packed snow and ice become dislodged, it could cause serious damage.
-Generally, if icicles are forming, there is a good chance your gutters are also full of ice. This can cause a number of issues - similar to those stated above. 

So what can you do? The best bet is to ensure you complete your Fall gutter cleaning, so there isn't any way water can become stuck in your gutters. 

Next, As the rain comes, ensure water is properly flowing out. When it snows, watch your gutters for signs of issue. And while it's personal preference consider knocking large ice formations off your gutters (in a safe manner) to relieve weight and pressure on your roof). 

In all things, be safe, and enjoy the season - then have us out afterwards to complete a Spring cleaning and inspection - to make sure your gutters are ready for the next big thing!