The No-Tool Solution For Removing Ice From Gutters

Gutters play a crucial part in funneling water away from your roof and home to protect and preserve their structure rather than damage them. But gutters can be a hassle to maintain since they're prone to clogging with leaves and other outdoor debris. And that's not all. When temperatures drop into that low-30s range, any condensation or water sitting inside them (which easily happens if they're clogged and the water isn't flowing) can start to harden up and turn into ice. And then how do you remove it? Despite its slippery reputation, ice can be incredibly difficult to get out of gutters, especially when it's built up inside and weighing everything down. But there is a no-tool solution you can use to clear it out — melting it away with hot water. It sounds too good to be true, but it's actually not.

While pouring hot water on a car windshield is risky as the sudden temperature change can crack the glass, gutters can actually handle hot water meeting ice since they're typically made from aluminum, steel, or copper. All you need is a hose, access to hot water from your water heater, and a ladder so you can safely reach the part of the gutter where the ice has collected, whether it's inside the gutter or an ice dam hanging over the roof. If there isn't a ton of ice, you may even be able to melt it with a bucket or container that won't spill easily. It should also be easy for you to carry up the ladder to pour directly over the icy area.

You should remove ice from gutters as it can weigh them down, which can eventually cause them to bend or even break. To get the ice out with hot water without getting too technical, you can do it one of two ways. The first method requires a garden hose and someone to help. You'll use your water heater as your hot-water source. To do this, you'll basically drain the water heater using an extra-long garden hose and use the hot water flowing out to melt the ice.

Start by turning off the water heater at the circuit breaker if it's electric, or switch the dial on the unit to "off" if it's gas so it's not actively heating up the water while you're using it. Attach the garden hose, making sure it's sealed tightly to the drain valve toward the bottom of the tank. Once it's attached and the hose is positioned over the ice, have your helper open the water heater's drain valve to release the water.

AO Smith recommends turning on a hot water tap inside your home, even lightly, to relieve some of the pressure in the plumbing system while you drain the tank. Use enough hot water to melt the ice, then close the drain valve, remove the hose, and turn your water heater back on. You can also skip the hose and use buckets or pots and manually pour the hot water over the ice, but that may mean you'll have to make a few extra trips up and down the ladder.