oh no!! Ice Dams
An Ice Dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home. It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too.
Ice Dams are a common sight in Northern New England winters, and Home Partners has dealt with quite a few. There are several things you can do to avoid getting an ice dam or to reduce the risk of damage after one has formed, but there’s really only one cure: a combination of better sealing, insulation, and venting in the attic and eaves.
HOW DO ICE DAMS FORM?
An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the underside of the layer of snow on the roof. The water trickles down between the layer of snow and the shingles until it reaches the eave of the roof, which stays cold because it extends beyond the side of the house. There, the water freezes, gradually growing into a mound of ice.
The flatter the pitch of the roof, the easier it is for an ice dam to get a grip. Gutters at the eaves can also trap snow and ice. If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter, it can provide a foundation for an ice dam.
roof-ice-dam
WHAT DAMAGE DO ICE DAMS CAUSE?
When an ice dam gets big enough, melted water backs up behind it and seeps underneath the shingles. Eventually, it will drip into the insulation and down into the ceilings and exterior walls beneath the eave, ruining sheetrock and paint. If the ice dam breaks free, it can pull shingles and gutters off with it, and it will damage anything it falls on: shrubs, windowsills, cars, pets, and people. If the roof sheathing stays wet, it can form mildew and start to rot.
HOW CAN YOU DEAL WITH AN ICE DAM?
There are two avenues of attack: dealing with an existing ice dam and preventing one in the first place.
DEALING WITH EXISTING ICE DAMS
1. Remove the ice dam by breaking it free in small chucks. Do NOT use an ax or other sharp tool! You’ll cut through the shingles. Instead, tap lightly with a blunt mallet. This is slow, dangerous work, so hire someone experienced at roofing. Even if you do it safely, the chunks of ice can take pieces of shingle with them.
2. Clear out gutters and downspouts. Again, this is ladder work and an easy way to damage either plastic or metal gutters and spouts.
3. Melt troughs through the ice dam with calcium chloride ice melter. Do NOT use rock salt! It will damage paint, metals, and plants beneath the eave and wherever the salty water drains.
A good trough-maker is a tube of cloth (a leg from an old pair of panty hose works well). Fill it with calcium chloride, tie off the top, and lay it vertically across the ice dam. It will slowly melt its way down through the dam, clearing a path for the underlying water to flow free.
PREVENTING ICE DAMS
You can scrape snow from the roof whenever it falls, using a snow rake from below or a broom or plastic shovel from above. BE CAREFUL: The first method can bury you in snow, while the second can send you slipping off the roof. Hire someone who knows how to use a safety line.
You can replace your shingle roof with standing seam or other metal roof. Or you can replace the bottom three feet or so of your shingle roof with a wide metal drip edge. Whatever you do, install a water-repellant membrane under any new roofing.
NOTE: If your roof is not very steep, an ice dam can still form on metal roofing and drip edges.
THE CURE
All of these methods treat the symptoms, not the underlying problem, which is the warm roof, caused by poor insulation and venting of the space under the roof. We have found that the only way to cure an ice dam – and prevent one in the first place – is to:
1. Seal all points where warm air leaks from the living space into the spaces immediately below the roof sheathing.
2. Insulate the living space well enough to prevent conduction and convection of heat through the ceiling.
3. Vent the space between the insulation and the roof sheathing, so any heat that does leak through is carried away.
- See more at: http://home-partners.com/articles/ice-dams-quick-fixes-cure#sthash.s3zqlJsG.dpuf
Winter storms cause major gutter system damage!! Let Keltom clean them now.
Now is the time to visit Keltom Gutters Services keltomgutters.com and schedule a gutter cleaning and gutter inspection. Keltom Gutters recommends making any repairs that are needed before ice and heavy snow occurs which cause gutters and downspouts to clog and tear away from the house. Gutter cleanings and inspections are a cheaper alternative than having to replace your entire gutter system. Keltom Gutter Services offers special offers on cleanings right now! Give us a call today to schedule or answer any gutter system questions. We will help you make the right decision so you don't spend more later!
Keltom Gutter Services helps you prepare for the Winter
Ice, heavy snow, and winter storms wreak havoc on your gutters. Ice blockages in the gutter can create standing water, which can freeze your gutters and cause them to warp, and break away from the structure. If enough water backs up, this may cause overflow, spilling freezing water which can damage your house. Here are a few tips to help you clear your gutters in the midst of winter.
- Plan ahead by making certain your gutters are clear at the start of winter. A thorough cleaning makes ice dams after a freeze or a storm a much less likely scenario. Hire a professional service to clean for you. Keltom Gutter Services have trained technicians who will clear any ice dams that have formed on your roofline. These can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to the interior of your home and should be cleared immediately. The cost of a cleaning service is much less expensive than a hospital visit, and infinitely less expensive than your life.
- Keltom Gutter Services will remove ice that has already formed in your gutters and blocking your downspout which are already under a massive amount of weight stress. Our technicians are trained to remove any ice without damaging the gutters.
- Ask Keltom Gutter Services to perform a “roof sweep” which will ensure that debris is removed from the rood that can contribute to ice dams.
- Invest in insulation for your attic. This will cut down on heat loss through your roof and, as a result, reduce energy costs and ice dams. Give Keltom Gutter Services a call at 973-852-7100 or visit our website for more info and special offers. keltomgutters.com
Keltom Gutter Services offers Gutter Cleanings in Monmouth & Mercer County!
Keltom Gutter Service is cleaning gutters in Monmouth and Mercer Counties. Keltom Gutter Services has offered professional seamless and copper gutter installations, repairs and cleanings for over 20 years in NJ.
Keltom Gutter professional technicians don't blow your gutter debris all over your home or yard, they clean all gutters by hand, don't walk on slate or cedar roofs and remove the debris. All seamless gutters are rolled on site and are available in multiple colors and sizes. "Waterfall System" gutter guards are available. Keltom specializes in copper gutter repairs, installations and cleanings. Stand-offs are used for all repairs and cleanings.
Our professional technicians take pride in doing a thorough job which earned Keltom Gutter Services a NJ BBB A+ rating. Read our reviews....https://keltomgutters.wpengine.com/?gclid=CP7jnvSPscgCFUYUHwodyZ4ABA
View our BBB reviews 
Call Keltom Gutter Services at: 973-852-7100 Visit: https://keltomgutters.wpengine.com for additional information on our services.
North Jersey needs Keltom Gutter Services
With 20 years experience, Keltom Gutter Services offers professional gutter cleaning, repairs and installation service to Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex counties. Our expert technicians specialize in providing the extra care that larger homes need. Many larger homes have copper or Yankee gutters that need experienced technicians. We will hand clean all of your gutters and provide the necessary attention slate and cedar roofs require. We will not walk on cedar or slate roofs – ever!! You can rest easy knowing that you will not need to repair your roof due to inexperienced gutter cleaning technicians. Give Keltom Gutter Services a call 973-852-7100, email info@keltomgutters.wpengine.com or visit our website: Keltomgutters.com to answer all your questions.
LEAVES, DEBRIS, STICKS…..WHAT ELSE CAUSES WATER OVERFLOW FROM MY GUTTERS????
Do you have underground drains? Keltom Gutters says:
Downspouts that disappear into the ground send water into a pipe (usually PVC) that leads to one of three locations: to a municipal storm-sewer system, to "daylight" (a point lower than the house where water can flow out at grade level), or to a dry well, sometimes called a catch basin, which is filled with pea stone so water can percolate into the surrounding soil. But often the under ground drainpipe is stopped up somewhere underground by dirt and leaves, by tree roots, animal nests, or from being crushed by traffic driving on the lawn, a common occurrence during home remodeling or maintenance. If water still backs up after the under ground drain is cleared, then the culprit is probably a clogged dry well.
In daylighted drains, check first for blockage at the discharge end of the pipe. Sometimes, dirt and leaves can be poked out with a hand-held plumbing snake or flushed out by sticking a hose with a high-pressure garden nozzle down the pipe. If that doesn't work, fish a metal plumbing snake into the pipe to determine where the blockage is. You can get a pretty good idea where the clog is by marking the snake close to the ground after it hits the clog and then taking it out and measuring from the mark to the snake's end.
Visit our site: keltomgutters.com or call 973-852-7100 to schedule a gutter cleaning.
Keltom says" The #1 cause of damage to your home is water".
The # 1 cause of damage to your home is caused by water...whether it be flooding or heavy downpours water is destructive.
Gutters are basically long channels that sit along the lower edge of your roof. They're designed to capture all the water that hits your roof when it rains or melts after a snow, ensuring that it travels safely to the ground.
These channels are angled slightly to direct water to the downspouts, which allow the water to fall to the ground in a controlled manner. The end of the downspout is curved to ensure the water is deposited away from the home's foundation. Without the gutter, or with a defective or clogged gutter, the water would simply fall right next to the house and form a pool near the foundation.
Once water pools near the foundation, pooling water means the soil underneath the water is completely saturated, and putting an enormous amount of pressure on the side of your home. Over time, this pressure can cause the basement and lower walls to push inward or crack. When the water finally drains off, it may erode away the soil, causing the foundation to settle. This can eventually result in uneven floors or cracks in walls and chimneys. Once cracks appear in the foundation, even if a collapse is not about to happen, water will then enter the home through those cracks where it can cause mold growth.
NJ has not had any major rain for almost two months but...autumn is here and the rainy season will be upon us. Keltom Gutter Service is servicing their trucks, stocking supplies, and scheduling appointments in preparation for the fall cleaning system.
Visit our website: keltomgutters.com or give us a call at 877-535-8660 for information and to schedule your fall gutter cleaning service.
Should I have Gutter Guards Installed?
Keltom Gutters recommends the "Waterfall System"
Keep your gutters clean and free flowing to prevent ice damage and other costly problems with gutter guards. The "Waterfall" Gutter Guard System is recommended for houses with asphalt shingled roofs. They come in either white or clay colors and are made of dent proof PVC. The "Waterfall" Gutter Guard System comes with a Lifetime Warranty and never needs cleaning!
WhyThe WaterFall?
Be smart and thrifty with the WaterFall® Gutter Guard System. WaterFall's innovative "step" design keeps gutters clean of leaves and twigs while allowing water to flow into the gutters and away from the house.
WaterFall's patented design means it slides under any shingled roof. It clips firmly to K-style gutters and won't blow away. Once it's in — it's secure. And so is your money: it stays secure in your pocket, instead of being spent year after year to unclog gutters. Just think of the extra time you'll have!
And the best part is what you don't see. Unlike other systems which have an ugly profile, WaterFall keeps a low, clean profile that does not change the roofline.
Key Features:
Innovative "step" design that can handle up to 10 inches of rain per hour
Low profile appearance that lasts — no change to the roofline
Manufactured from durable vinyl
Perfect for 4" and 5" K-style gutters with special adapters for use with 6" K-style gutters too
Contact us at 973-852-7100 or info@keltomgutters.com to schedule an estimate. No need to be home, we will evaluate, leave a written estimate and follow up with a phone call.
A Hurricane is coming! Call Keltom Gutter Cleaning
A major hurricane is heading for NJ with devastating rain and winds. Keltom Gutters can schedule you for a gutter cleaning! Keltom Gutter Cleaning has been serving NJ for 20 years we are ready to put you on our cleaning schedule right away. Give us a call at 1-877-535- 8660 or visit our site: keltomgutters.com
Keltom Gutter Service Offers Winter Cleanups and Maintenance in NJ
Winter is finally over!!! It had been a cold, long winter and now is the time to get your gutters cleaned to reduce the damage debris from falling branches, left over leaves, and bird nests may cause. Keltom Gutter Services recommends a through cleaning and maintenance check before the heavy rains of April and May begin. Water damage from clogged gutters not only can damage your foundation but water can run down the sides of your home damaging windows and doorways. Landscaping is subject to heavy water damage also. Keltom Gutters offers $15 of your gutter cleaning for first time customers and $20 off your gutter cleaning if you take advantage of the "LOCK IN YOUR PRICE" gutter cleaning service agreement. You determine when you want your gutter cleaning, receive written notification and priority scheduling and lock in your price!!! In today's economy it is nice to know that some things don't change and Keltom Gutter Services guarantees your cleaning. If your gutters clog within 30 days of your last cleaning we will clean them again free of charge! Call 973-852-7100 for a quick quote on your gutter cleaning price.