The majority of us take our gutters for granted. Snow and ice in the winter can wreak havoc on your gutters!

Here are 5 things you can do to increase the efficiency of your house gutters, especially during the cold months!

1. Install gutter guards

Gutter guards keep debris out of your rain gutters, such as autumn leaves and winter snow accumulation, which can cause obstruction or weight-bearing damage.

However, no gutter guard is flawless. Even the best gutter guards can't totally avoid collection, so it's still a good idea to clean and inspect your gutters on a regular basis.

Choosing the best gutter guards for your house is a very important job!

2. Install heating elements in your gutters

It is a very common mistake to think heating cables will solve all the ice dam problems. Unfortunately heated cables only can protect limited areas. Beside heated cables, heated roof mats seem like a more efficient solution.

3. Improve the insulation and ventilation in your attic

Heat from inside your home can actually help melting the ice dams on the roof. The resulting runoff may refreeze in your gutters, potentially accumulating and generating damaging ice dams.

So, in the end, you want your roof to be cold in the winter.

How?

• By improving the insulation in the space beneath the roof and ensuring proper ventilation in that space.

4. Use gutter brackets or bracing hardware to reinforce your gutters

Unless you provide some additional support, even well fitted house gutters can fail during a heavy snowfall.

Gutter brackets have two functions:

• To strengthen the load-bearing capacity of the gutter, reinforce the existing anchors.

• Reduce gutter sagging or outright structural damage caused by too much weight.

5. Your roof should have an ice and water membrane installed.

Installing ice and water barriers in your home's roofing system will assist avoid moisture damage.

During the construction phase of most houses, ice and water membranes are put beneath the roof shingles. Even if your property is older, an upgrade to the roofing system may be beneficial.