Are Heated Gutters Worth It? Prep for the wear and tear of the winter months

At first glance, heated gutters might sound like an indulgence or luxury that only the most well-equipped houses offer. For places where snow and ice buildup are common, however, these additions become essential for protecting your home. With heated gutters, you can protect your gutter system, prevent dangerous icicles from forming, and avoid water damage when you’d least expect it.  

What Are Heated Gutters?

The process of keeping your gutters warm enough to prevent snow and ice buildup is generally pretty simple. Most gutter heating systems involve lining the gutters and downspouts with a heated cable that plugs into an external outlet on the side of your home. 

These additions are helpful for preventing moderate amounts of ice and snow buildup in your gutters, but they are generally unable to handle extreme amounts of snowfall. For harsh winter weather, you will need to take a more hands-on approach to protecting your gutters. 

Why Would You Invest in Heated Gutters?

While researching how to winterize your home and gutter systems, you’ll likely come across something called ice dams. These are formed when sunlight or heat radiates up through your roof and melts accumulated snow slowly. This meltwater flows across your shingles and refreezes around the edge of the roof, sometimes on top of your gutters. 

This ice accumulation can cause water to build up and gutters to sag, which can lead to significant water damage to your home. Additionally, ice dams also form icicles that hang overhead, which can be dangerous when they become too heavy and fall. 

Heated gutters typically are not powerful enough to fight off heavy snowfall and ice, but under the right conditions, heated gutters can be a helpful addition to your home. 

Pros and Cons of Heated Gutters 

Heated gutters might not be the best option for all homeowners, but there are a few factors you can consider to find out if these additions are right for you.

Pros of Heat Gutters

Heated gutters can be a helpful part of preparing your gutters for winter. They are simple to install and maintain, and can help promote the flow of meltwater from occasional winter weather through your gutters as it runs off your roof. 

When combined with the best winter gutter guards, heat cables or heat tape will prevent most debris from accumulating in your gutters, too, since the added heat will keep leaf and twig fragments from freezing in place inside the gutters and causing clogs. 

On the other hand, heated gutters add on an extra layer of expense since they require a constant source of electricity to function properly. The initial installation of heated gutters can cost thousands of dollars, as well, making it a bit pricey for some homeowners. 

Also, heated gutters can actually make ice issues worse in very cold climates. As the snow and ice around the heat cables melts, it’s likely to refreeze into harder, more compact ice, which can accumulate into ice dams. You will need to be wary of low temperatures and monitor your heated gutter system carefully to catch any ice dams before they become a problem. 

Are Gutter Heaters Worth It?  

For homeowners in moderately cold climates where winter weather comes in short waves, heated gutters can be a great option for keeping gutters clear of ice. However, if your area is prone to long periods of extreme freezing temperatures, heated gutters may make matters worse. 

Homeowners who want to have more of a hands-off relationship with their gutters during the winter season and who live in milder climates will likely appreciate the ease and peace of mind that come with heated gutters. However, no matter how many additions you make to your home, you should still keep an eye open for any signs of problems. No home is completely maintenance-free, after all. 

Alternatives to Heated Gutters

Heated gutters aren’t the right fit for every situation, so what can you do? If ice dams are your chief concern, you need to address how they form in the first place. Other than direct sunlight, the main cause of melting snow on your roof is heat loss from your home. 

If the heat that you want to keep inside during those chilly months is instead radiating up through your roof, you have an insulation problem on your hands. You may need to invest in new insulation solutions to help prevent this heat loss, but you will likely save on heating costs and prevent water damage from ice dams in the long run. 

Aside from better insulation, you can take a more direct approach to fighting ice accumulation. If you’re looking at more than four inches of snow, you should take a shovel or similar tool and start clearing out those gutters and rooftops. 

Frequently asked questions 

How effective are gutter heaters?

Heated gutters can help with mild to moderate amounts of ice and snow but are generally ineffective at handling heavy winter weather. In fact, the constant melting and refreezing can lead to faster ice dam development. 

Do gutter heaters use a lot of electricity?

The amount of energy gutter heaters use depends on the type of cables and the footage needed to cover all the home’s gutters. Some heated gutters need around 400 watts per square foot to function, but more energy-efficient options are available. If you keep your gutter heaters plugged in all day, you can think of it as an extra appliance like a refrigerator or washing machine. 

Do heated gutters prevent ice dams?

For milder climates, heated gutters can help with ice accumulation in gutters, but for consistently cold areas or during heavy winter weather, heated gutters cannot reliably melt enough ice to prevent ice dams. 

How much does it cost to install heated gutters?

Installation costs vary depending on the type of heat tape or cable you use and how many linear feet of gutter you’re working with. You can expect to spend a few thousand dollars for materials and professional installation, though.