Multiple heat cable locations meant we could tailor this ice dam prevention gutter protection system to each homeowners unique situation without the necessary addition of expensive heat panel add ons. Our experience with the problems of the other heated gutter guards on the market coupled with the problems experienced with gutter guards in general led us to the decision to offer VersaScreen IceBlaster as part of our ice dam prevention arsenal. In 2010, WI Ice Dam Solutions began installing the VersaScreen IceBlaster heated gutter guard. VersaScreen Gutter Protection and Ice Dams! Some of these products have adapted heat cable systems to try to combat these problems.Īs was mentioned with micro mesh gutter guards, you can do your own research on the effectiveness of reverse curve gutter guards. When they fall or slide off real damage can occur. The picture here shows just how big these ice dams can get. If you are experiencing ice dams and icicles, you can decide how great that benefit is. They reason that it protects the gutter from filling with ice and being damaged.
Some products advertise this as a benefit. When the air temps are below freezing, the melted run off will refreeze on top of the guards instead of in the gutter. Products like Gutter Helmet™, Gutter Topper™, and other reverse curve gutter protection products, as well as the all in one reverse curve products like the Leafguard gutter have a upper solid surface area that is used to create surface tension. Reverse curve and all in one gutter guards.Īnother problem many homeowners have with ice dams and gutter guards is with the reverse curve gutter guards. You can do your own research on the effectiveness of micro mesh gutter guards. Some products become clogged with pollen, tree sap, and asphaltic oils - completely defeating the gutter guard until it is cleaned. Some products allow the water to overshoot in heavier rainfalls. There is much debate on the benefits of micro mesh. It should be noted that Gutterglove is based in sunny California. When additional heating is necessary (as is the case with Wisconsin winters), additional heat panels are added. The Gutterglove Icebreaker has only one heat cable placement - at the front lip. Depending on which version you have may impact on how well the product is working for you. It looks like they have modified the product two or three times to try to deal with this - everything from very coarse meshes (no longer a micro mesh) to a "dam" at the front edge to attempt to stop the dripping over the front edge to a larger screen area. The same problem with the micro mesh not absorbing the water and allowing it to drip over the front edge was experienced. It is called Gutterglove Icebreaker or Ice Breaker™. There is another product on the market that has sought to deal with the problem of micro mesh gutter guards and ice damming. But when the icicles are dripping on your front walk or the water is dripping inside your home from an ice dam, you know it is a problem. According to the Mastershield blog page, this should not be a problem for you. This adds up to a big problem when the snow falls and ice dams and icicles start forming. He also explains that the screen is very fine, so it is not suprising that it freezes shut.
This training from the rain does not happen in winter. Also, as the inventor of Mastershield™ (a fairly expensive Micro Mesh gutter guard) has blogged about, the screen needs rain to be falling on it to force the water running down the roof through the screen. This dense water has difficulty being drawn through the screen through surface tension. As water approaches freezing it becomes denser. The difficulty with micro mesh stainless steel or aluminum gutter screens is that water behaves differently in the winter. Please also note that this is not the experience of every customer. The problem lies in what water does in the winter and what type of gutter protection you are using. Others realize that their insulation and ventilation is proper and wonder what else can be done. Some homeowners turn to insulating and improving the ventilation - often to no avail. If these were improved - there would be no ice dam problems is usually what is explained. The common reason given is lack of insulation and ventilation. The first response by worried homeowners is to call the gutter guard installation company and ask why this is happening.
It is a common experience for customers in Northern climates to experience ice dams and severe icicle formation after installing gutter guards or gutter screens. Why do gutter guards have problems with ice dams and icicles?
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