Get matched with top gutter repair and replacement pros in Pioche, NV

Buried downspouts can freeze during cold weather as cold water runs through them. If you’ve discovered your downspouts are frozen, you can carefully pour hot water down the top of the downspout to defrost them. If that doesn’t work, you may need to dig your downspout back up. Avoid trying to break the ice from the exterior using a hammer as this can cause cracks and damage to your downspout.

To avoid freezing the future, consider adding a heating cable to the exterior, which can adjust heat based on the surrounding temperature.

If your gutters get overwhelmed every time it rains, adding an extra downspout is a solution. First, you'll need to decide where to add the downspout. If your current setup only has a single downspout, one option is to place a new one at the opposite end of the gutter. If you already have a downspout at each end, adding a third one in the middle can help to lighten the load. 

You can hire a professional to add a downspout yourself by cutting into the existing gutter and attaching the necessary parts, such as an outlet and brackets.

It is possible to repair your own gutters, but we don’t recommend it. First, gutters need to sit at a precise slope to direct water toward the downspouts but also appear level from the yard, and this task is challenging to get right through DIY gutter repair. Second, any mistakes you make could be costly if they cause water damage or foundation damage. It might seem unnecessary to spend $400 on professional gutter repair, but it pales in comparison to what you might pay if you make a mistake doing the work yourself.

Calcium chloride does not do significant damage to gutters when used properly and in moderate amounts. If you use too much too frequently, it could eventually cause corrosion in your gutters. Rock salt will harm your gutters, though.