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Why Icicles Form (And What You Should Do About It)

WHY ICICLES FORM
 December 2, 2024 |  Home Maintenance, DIY, Safety |  winter, attic, roof, home exterior, insulation, ventilation

Living in colder climates has its own benefits. Sledding, building snowmen, and cozying up in the evenings with a cup of hot cocoa can make winter a magical time, but certain icons of the season can “point” towards surprising dangers. That’s right, we’re talking about icicles!

Homeowners commonly find icicles hanging off of their roofs and gutters once the temperature drops, but most aren’t aware of the serious hazards they pose, not just to themselves, but to their homes as well. Today, let’s discuss where icicles come from and how to deal with them when they become an issue.

Why Do Icicles Form On Your House?
Icicles need both the cold and the heat to form. Heat from the sun or other sources melts accumulated snow and ice from roofs, turning it into water runoff which travels downward into gutters or off of the sides of homes. When runoff can’t travel down gutters or other drainage systems and it refreezes before reaching the ground, it forms into long strands of ice which we call icicles.

Note: The bumps and inconsistencies we see in icicles are actually signs of substances in the water. Water runoff is never pure H20 and can contain minerals like sodium, salt, calcium, and magnesium, as well as various chemicals.

Even small, fragile icicles often point towards other issues, including ventilation and insulation problems within your home. The first issue homeowners should be aware of is ice damming.

Ice damming occurs when accumulated ice blocks drain from your roof. Whether ice forms within the gutters or along the edge of a roof, ice dams tend to get bigger over time, sending water in directions it shouldn’t be sent. Icicles could more accurately be thought of the places where water is currently traveling to get off your roof, whether that’s off the side of your eaves or off the edge of your gutters.

Any time water isn’t going where it’s supposed to go, it can spell major problems for homeowners since, eventually, the easiest path downwards might become inside the home. Leaks in the roof, water intrusion in the basement, and mold growth within the attic are all just a start of what homeowners should expect once they start having drainage issues, leading up to costly problems like foundation troubles.

On top of these drainage issues, there’s also the weight problems that ice dams cause. More ice and snow means more weight and strain on roofs, and growing icicles are known to cause gutters to separate or even tear off of homes over time. Extreme weight issues may also lead to distortion or damage to a home’s eaves or other structural features.

All of these issues (and more) start from those pretty little icicles hanging from the edge of your roof! The good news is these issues are largely preventable with a few proactive moves.

Preventing Icicles and Ice Dams

Step #1: Check on your insulation before it gets cold.
If you’ve ever looked around and wondered why your home has icicles while your neighbor’s doesn’t, this could be the reason! Poor insulation in your attic will cause considerable heat loss in your home, which is not only an issue for your heating bills, it fosters the growth of ice dams on your roof. While sunshine can effectively lead to unequal heating and ice damming from above, heat loss due to poor insulation will also effectively heat the roof from below and lead to the same result.

When water runoff moves from the roof into cold gutters or just towards the house’s eaves and siding, the extreme heat differential leads to refreezing and easy icicle formation. Remember, falling icicles can be major hazards! Confirming that you have an appropriate amount of insulation in your attic is a great start when it comes to combating ice dams.

With that said, the majority of heat that enters the attic actually comes from the attic hatch and from light switches. Homeowners that make sure these areas are air sealed and weatherized will greatly reduce the heat in their attic spaces.

Step #2: Look into your home’s ventilation.
On the other end of the spectrum, it’s important to know where air is supposed to be entering and exiting your home. Ventilation is an important component of having a healthy home, and many older homes simply don’t hold up to modern ventilation standards. Miniscule cracks throughout the home can mean additional heat loss and increased energy costs, and other hot air outlets can further promote ice damming.

Make sure you know where plumbing stacks, bathroom exhausts, and dryer vents funnel their air, and confirm the integrity of chimneys and skylights. One great way to confirm the condition of your home’s ventilation and to improve your energy efficiency is through conducting an energy audit! See how your local NPI property inspector can help.

Step #3: Keep your gutters free from debris.
Finally, although it may not be the most fun chore, gutters should be cleaned and cleared from debris on a regular basis. Leaves, sticks, and other blockages are always problems for your home’s gutters, but in the winter this debris helps ice damming work faster and just adds to the weight.

Clean your gutters at least twice a year, and consider purchasing a gutter guard product to keep your channels clear. A well-functioning gutter system helps maintain the entire structure of your home, and it can also extend the lifespan of your roof - one of the priciest parts of the home to repair or replace.

Eliminating Ice Dams and Maintaining Your Roof
Preventive measures are great, of course, but sometimes snow just builds up too quickly anyhow or other circumstances cause these maintenance tasks to fall by the wayside too late. In these instances, there are still ways to combat ice damming and icicle formation.

But first, keep this in mind: not all snow is created equal! Some snow is wet and heavy, other types are light and fluffy. Although mounds may seem to be shrinking on your roof, it may actually just be compacting and creating even more strain on your roof. There’s no perfect rule for when to address weight and damming issues on your roof, so use your best judgment!

Your first and best bet for combatting ice dams and icicle formation during the snowy season is to use a roof rake! Roof rakes are a very effective way to clear roofs of snow, although flat and pitched roofs are a challenge. Roof rakes are gentle enough so that shingles aren’t damaged and can be used safely from ground level. Navigating roofs is always dangerous, especially so when there’s ice and snow in the picture. If you have to get on top of your roof to clear it, we advise hiring a professional to do the job instead.

Some recommend using de-icer products to encourage melting, but there are a few things to be aware of. First, due to their chemical makeup they may not be suitable for homes that utilize private wells, and they are likely not pet friendly either. Additionally, salt is definitely not suitable for use on roofs. Rock salt can severely damage roofs and gutters by eating away at shingles and causing rust. Additionally, the EPA advises against excess use of salt due to environmental concerns.

Instead, one home remedy that’s popular in some areas is called the “Stocking Method” where socks or stockings are filled with calcium chloride and lined on top of icy gutters to promote melting. Whatever method is used, take the time to snowblow or shovel a lane surrounding your house for easy roof access! Again, walking your roof is not advisable, but starting from a clear and stable structure is absolutely essential.

Icicles and ice dams might be a sign for action, but they don’t need to be a cause for your concern if you take some extra time to prepare. Stay warm and safe this winter!

For more home maintenance and moving tips, continue following the NPI Inspector Blog!