However consistently frozen or frozen solid downspouts may require immediate attention especially if weather conditions will be less than ideal for the foreseeable future.
Gutter drain pipe frozen.
It also makes it harder to manage during cold climates.
The only guaranteed way to keep the pipe from freezing is to bury it below the frost line which ranges between 32 and 48 inches in most areas of the snow belt.
Pitch of pipe and type of pipe.
Check to see if water and debris come out the other end of the pipe.
Consistently frozen downspouts require immediate attention.
Remove the guard at the other end of the drain pipe if there is one.
Proper pitch in the drainage tubing is crucial.
Here are 3 tips to help prevent freezing of those pipes.
Turn on a garden hose to its most powerful setting and run water through the drain pipe.
The first tip has to do with the initial installation of the underground gutter extension.
Digging a trench that deep is only practical when the end of the pipe drains into a dry well or is connected to an existing drain line.
Over time the ice may back up into your gutters themselves thereby creating extra weight on your entire guttering system.
Water is less likely to freeze inside your pipes if the flow of water is continuous.
If you let your gutters dump water into your french drain you may find your french drain gets clogged with debris which will make it less effective.
Disconnect the gutter downspout from where it connects to the drain pipe.
The tubing needs to have a 1 4 of drop per foot of pipe.
Add a steeper slope to your piping.
Over time the ice can back up into your gutters creating additional weight on your entire gutter system.
Frozen downspouts can cause costly damage.