Icicles Above Your Entrance: Why They Grow and How to Bring Them Down Safely
Long icicles are a sign that snow on your roof is melting and refreezing. On their own they are a hazard; together with a ridge of ice at the roof edge, they can mean water is getting into the house.
Why they form
Heat escaping through the attic warms the roof deck. Snow melts higher up and the melt trickles toward the overhang, which is colder because it is outside the house, and freezes there. Clogged gutters give the water nowhere to go, so it overflows and grows icicles.
The risks
- Falling ice above doors, walkways and driveways.
- The extra weight bends gutters and pulls brackets out of the fascia.
- An ice ridge at the eaves traps meltwater, which creeps beneath the shingles and drips into ceilings and walls.
Safe removal
- Never stand directly under an icicle you are trying to remove.
- Small icicles can be tapped off from a safe distance with a long pole or roof rake.
- Do not hack at ice on the roof or in the gutter with a hammer or axe: it cracks shingles and dents the eavestrough.
- Raking snow off the eaves once a storm ends removes the source of the meltwater.
Fixing the cause
Better attic insulation and ventilation keep the roof cold, and clean gutters let water drain. Our partner handles eavestrough cleaning and guards; we handle the snow and ice when you call.
Other notes: Freeing a snowed-in car · Holiday guests and snowy steps · Choosing a de-icer