How the Wrong Gutter Systems Can Damage Your Roof in Winter

The gutters around your house are usually invisible. Unless they need a good cleaning or one of the downspouts has been knocked a bit ajar, they just blend into the familiar sides of your home. But have a gutter system that doesn’t adequately direct water away from your roof and house can be causing nearly invisible damage, especially in the winter. Here’s what to look for after a freeze or snowfall:

How the Wrong Gutter Systems Can Damage Your Roof in Winter

  • Do you have icicles? Even Texas roofs can collect icicles, but they’re a sign that frozen water is blocking up your gutter system. Snow on your roof can start to melt before the ice in the gutters entirely dissipates, but that standing water has nowhere to go. Instead of being drained away, it will slowly seep under the edges of your shingles and into your attic. Left untreated, the water damage will spread to your ceilings. But seamless gutters have extra moisture control that can help control the flow of water and protect more of the underlying woodwork.
  • Does your roof have a ring of snow around the edge? If so, that means your roof is uninsulated and the heat from your home is melting the snow. Just like with ice dams, this can cause standing water to get into your house unless you have a gutter system that can provide roof drainage in key areas around the perimeter of your roof.

Gutters are an important part of keeping your roof strong and well-maintained. Make sure your system stays clean, can handle the flow of rainwater and snow runoff, and makes moisture control a key design element. Go to Longhorn Solar Screens to find out more about how our gutters protect your house year-round.