There’s nothing more impressive than a particularly long icicle on the eaves of your Burtonsville home. As it reaches toward the ground, dripping cold water, you can’t help but think of winter. However, icicles are often unsafe – not only for you and your family but for anyone else that might be near your home. Just as annual maintenance helps you keep your furnace functioning safely, a little maintenance on your eaves can keep your family out of danger. Remember, as more water joins the icicle and the structure grows, it gets heavier. That weight heightens the chance that it will fall and hit someone or that it will cause damage to your roof or gutter.
So, it’s important to get rid of icicles on your eaves as they appear. Generally, it is best to remove them before they reach 4 or 5 inches in length. Even shorter icicles can be dangerous if left unchecked and if anything is stored underneath the overhang of your roof, it can be damaged.
Removing Icicles
There are quite a few ways to remove icicles. The easiest way to is to cut or break them down. If your roof is low enough, you can hack them down with a large saw or knife. If the roof is higher, a board or broom can be used to reach up and knock them down. In the winter, you should do your best to avoid going on the roof to remove icicles. The danger involved is too great due to ice and snow.
Another way to remove icicles is with heat. There are a few ways to do this. A blowtorch or heated rod provided by a roofing company can help to remove them from the ground. Or you can install heated panels on your eaves and gutter that will keep those icicles from forming in the first place.
Safe Removal
When removing the icicles from your roof, make sure you carefully rope off the area and don’t allow anyone nearby. You should wear a helmet if you plan on standing below them and try to stand clear of the fall area. Icicles are very sharp and incredibly solid – they can cause horrific injury if you’re not careful.
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Tags: Brinklow, Burtonsville, Frederick County, Home Maintenance, North Potomac, Winter Maintenance
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It’s getting colder, and the temperatures will continue to drop until they reach the lows of January and February. If you haven’t yet taken steps to protect the plumbing of your home for the ice-cold season, now is definitely the time.