Q. I had new aluminum gutters installed on my house in late August. The system appealed to me because I didn’t want to clear leaves from the gutters. But I fear it has created a much more serious problem. After the first heavy snowfall of the season, my house is covered in icicles. Is this related to the gutters?
A. Coyne, Chicago
A. If the gutters are covered, the snow and ice may be building up on top of the gutters, said William Pawlowski, of Hickory Seamless Gutters in Monee. Also, if the gutters are dirty or clogged with debris, they could dam up and freeze.
With temperature changes, the snow buildup can melt and freeze, forming icicles in these areas, he said.
You could try to change the balance of cold and heat by either installing heaters for the gutters or by adding attic insulation to reduce heat loss from the roof, which can melt snow and lead to icicles.
