Technically all the ice buildup means is that very cold gutters are subjected to way too much water from melting snow or the gutters are clogged with debris or both.
Snow filled gutters.
In practice frozen gutters usually mean something is causing a lot of snow to melt.
An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof usually at the gutters or soffit.
Then lay the filled pantyhose horizontally on the ice in your gutter.
The only time i would even bother trying to touch an ice dam like that is if it s going into the shingles and dripping into the house says joe hennelly owner of hennelly son roofing gutters in quincy massachusetts.
Salt will eventually melt and can damage any grass or plants below your gutters.
You should use a calcium chloride deicer rather than salt.
Trying to break it up is dangerous and you can damage the gutters.
To keep the snow on your roof from melting make sure your roof is well insulated.
Tie a long string to the filled pantyhose so you can easily retrieve them later.
Sorry to say but possibly into your attic.
So where is all that water going to go.
Examples photos of ice filled gutters.
Clogged gutters will only accelerate the process of ice damming and over flow when the gutters fill up with ice and snow.
In fact once your gutters are frozen solid your best bet may be to wait it out.
This pool of water can leak into your home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas.
What does ice buildup on gutters mean.